Eddie the Eagle

[Spinney]

I watched Cool Runnings last week - great film, similar theme!

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Originally posted by Andy in Sig:
It also made me remember that Mr E was ready to jump for Britain in the following Olympics but some t**t at the British Olympic Association (or whatever it's called) said that funding/assistance would be refused him because he "didn't represent the image they wanted to project" or similar. The apparatchik who said that is also long forgotten as are the long chain of no hopers who got funding presumably because they did have the right image.

What another load of total bollocks. Funding and the selection process for Olympic teams has been the subject of much public debate since the Atlanta games. There's been no diktat from any faceless apparatchik; it's been an entirely democratic process within the national governing sports bodies and parliament itself. It has also mirrored the public mood that was unhappy with GB's lack of success at Atlanta and outraged by the swimmers squandering so much public money in the run up to Sidney, but returning without a single medal.

The debate concluded that whilst there should be continued public funding of 'sport for all', elite funding should be reserved for those who are capable, in the long term, of competing for medals. Cycling, rowing and sailing were amongst the first sports to wake up to the new reality and their performance has shown what can be done. Athletics and swimming were slower to change but are now getting the message and sports like shooting still think it good enough just to hand out money to 'good chaps down the club who are doing their jolly best'. As a result all their public funding has been withdrawn.

I think it's hilarious that some extreme right wing twerp like AIS should think it's okay to use public money to fund someone's recreational hobby. Odd they should be so enthusiastic for 'nationalised mediocrity'. If Eddie the Eagle wants to go ski jumping then he can pay up and go. But the tax payers in the UK decided they wanted medals and success for their money. So now there is a contract - we pay; you win. Sports like shooting and women's mountain bike racing haven't been able to keep their side of the bargain, so they get no funding and hence have no Olympic teams.

The only losers of this system are not the Eddie the Eagles of this world, but elite, world class athletes in sports such as orienteering, that aren't Olympic events.

 

[Noodley]

He later did a law degree at Leicester Uni and I met him a few times down the pub. Nice guy.

That would make him Eddie the Legal Eagle...

I wonder if he has a dog? It could be Eddie the Legal Eagle's Beagle...

I'l get my own coat thanks.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Timothy,

I distinctly remember a British Olympic official saying that they did not want Eddie because he promoted the wrong image and although I can't remember the bloke's name, I can assure you that my recollection of the matter is A1 because it annoyed me so much at the time.

Some of the rest of your post is unnecessarily rude and offensive. I don't know who you're trying to impress with that but I suspect that nobody will be impressed.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

Rude and offensive? Oh you poor flower.

How about your deriding of all the work put in by thousands of often unpaid people in sports administration and coaching in this country to come up with a system that better reflects the 'will of the people'? Is it not rude to just sit there on the side lines and dismiss all the blood, sweat and tears that has been invested in this developing this process because you remember a comment from someone years ago who was themselves reflecting this change in mood.

We now have the most democratic sports system ever in this country. There are now 'opportunities for all' and within a system that's (almost) entirely based on merit; if you're good there is money for you to succeed. The old system you remember with such fondness was rotten to the core; public money was wasted on no hopers and often those who's success at a national level was based entirely on them having the private means to support their 'hobbies'. I've seen correspondence between national governing bodies and the British Olympic Committee for games some times ago where world class athletes were blocked from going to games because 'they had neither the means or bearing to be suitable ambassadors for Britain'. I know personally of a working class gold medal certainty that was replaced with a couple of medical students from Guys who 'did their jolly best' to come 35th.

If you have problems with a democratically open system based on merit alone, then so be it. But no one in their right mind wants to return to your 'good old days'.

 

[Andy in Sig]

My OP was in praise of a good bloke.

The rest of your post deals with nothing which I posted: I derided nobody (other than the image-obsessed apparatchik) and have no concern other than to sing the praises of Eddie the Eagle. Therefore, in this thread at least, I have not the least interest in the rest of what you have just posted.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

My OP was in praise of a good bloke.

Only in your revisionist world. Most of it was a load of twaddle about how some individual specifically prevented him from participating in subsequent games by restricting his funding. But hey ho! Let's not let facts intrude.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I clearly remember the official saying that Eddie the Eagle would receive no further help from British Olympics and the reason he gave was on grounds of "image". And some of the other posts on this thread might lead you to the conclusion that a number of other people also think that he was a good bloke.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

I have never passed any opinion on Eddie the Eagle. I have never met him. But despite you and 'some other posters to this thread', there has been a more widespread feeling in the country over recent years that public funding shouldn't be used to support the hobbies of someone purely because they might be 'a good bloke'. In a democratic meritocracy, it's ability that is the only consideration.

Interesting this cosy support for the failings of Eddie the Eagle weren't extended to the GBR sprint relay team when they dropped the baton or to Paula Radcliffe for failing to win a medal. Being a 'plucky loser' isn't good enough for them.

 

[Manonabike]

What with all this winter mullarkey going on in Vancouver the conversation turned to it at coffee this morning and one of my German colleagues pointed out how it is that everybody remembers Eddie the Eagle and that whoever won the event is completely forgotten.

It also made me remember that Mr E was ready to jump for Britain in the following Olympics but some t**t at the British Olympic Association (or whatever it's called) said that funding/assistance would be refused him because he "didn't represent the image they wanted to project" or similar. The apparatchik who said that is also long forgotten as are the long chain of no hopers who got funding presumably because they did have the right image.

Eddie the Eagle was to me one of the things which sport should be about: getting stuck in and not giving up. So here's raising an imaginary glass to him: well done that man.

Well, the name Eddie the Eagle is ONLY remembered cause he was so bad that is was laughable. I don't remember exactly the distance he was jumping but it was way short of anybody else in the competition. Now, would you like anybody to represent your country that will only make a full of himself / herself?

He is probably a very nice guy.... and had he been able to jump 40 meters further then nobody would remember him .

Is like schools teachers, I only remember the good and bad teachers. The ones in between made no impact in my life whatsoever

 

[Andy in Sig]

Of course he attracted the sympathy which the underdog gets but I think he also provided a much loved alternative to the slick, increasingly controlled world to which we are all expected to conform. And the very fact that there were grumblings about the effect he might have on how the sport was perceived (something of which I was not aware until I read some of the replies to this thread) and that the rules were changed to prevent another Eddie, was probably the last blow to be struck against the all pervading pomposity and managemental control in modern sport. Not good for breaking records but very good for anybody who likes to see balloons being pricked. The particular point about him though is that he was hardly detracting from anybody else as he was the only Brit who has ever had a shot at the jumping. Sadly (IMO) we'll never see his like again.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I have never passed any opinion on Eddie the Eagle. I have never met him. But despite you and 'some other posters to this thread', there has been a more widespread feeling in the country over recent years that public funding shouldn't be used to support the hobbies of someone purely because they might be 'a good bloke'. In a democratic meritocracy, it's ability that is the only consideration.

Interesting this cosy support for the failings of Eddie the Eagle weren't extended to the GBR sprint relay team when they dropped the baton or to Paula Radcliffe for failing to win a medal. Being a 'plucky loser' isn't good enough for them.

Which is all fair and boring enough because I was not posting about the politics of sport. And he was not funded: if you look at the Wikipedia link somebody put up you'll see that he was self funded.

And FWIW I giggled quite a bit when the baton was dropped just like I laughed when that girl fell over about 20 yds from the start gate in the downhill the other day. Sport is fine but you have to remember that not everybody takes it deadly seriously. And if Paula Radcliffe wants to win a medal then she must learn to put one foot in front of the other repeatedly and more quickly than the other competitors.

 

[trustysteed]

And if Paula Radcliffe wants to win a medal then she must learn to put one foot in front of the other repeatedly and more quickly than the other competitors.

she really needs to pull her pants socks up on that!

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

I mean, who would want to watch me and three mates enter as a beach volleyball team if there isn't a UK side, just because we could afford the plane fare?

I thought the qualification was to be a super fit female wearing very little.

 

[Happiness Stan]

Until you are prepared to repeatedly throw yourself down a 90m ski slope, I'd keep shtum.