Berlin (AFP) – Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards’ planned return to ski jumping in Germany — 17 years after his last leap — is back on after an invitation to make a guest appearance.

Britain’s Edwards, who turned 50 on December 5, finished last at the 1988 Winter Olympics, but had been set to soar again at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria on January 1 in a televised World Cup large hill event.

Red tape blocked his efforts in Garmisch, with organisers citing insurance problems, but now ‘the Eagle’ has been offered the chance to jump in nearby Oberstdorf.

Edwards is set to make a guest appearance next Sunday at the Bavarian town’s first leg of ski jumping’s annual Four Hills tournament held in Germany and Austria.

The Brit will jump against the Oberstdorf’s junior section in a separate competition called “Beat the Eagle”, nearly 18 years after his last competitive jump.

Edwards rose to fame when he came last in both the 70m (229ft) and 90m (295ft) ski jumps at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games, earning plenty of media attention as he became an unlikely hero.