Women's ski jumping voted down for '10 Olympics.

[ski diva]

I don't know about you, but I find this very distressing:

Women Ski Jumpers Miffed by Olympic Snub

Salt Lake City, UT - Women ski jumpers are upset by a recent decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to decline to approve women's ski jumping for inclusion in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

U.S. ski jumper Lindsey Van trains this summer at Utah Olympic Park. Women ski jumpers are upset that the International Olympic Committee recently declined to add their sport to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

"The recent IOC decision to block women ski jumpers from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics is blatant discrimination and a stunning move that harkens back to the Dark Ages," according to Deedee Corradini, the former Mayor of Salt Lake City and President of Women's Ski Jumping USA, the non-profit organization that promotes women's ski jumping within the U.S.

The Olympic Charter's mission is to "encourage support and promotion of women in sport at all levels and structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women," said Corradini. "By denying women ski jumpers the right to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, the IOC is exhibiting the most clear-cut case of discrimination of women in the Olympics since the reluctance to add women's marathon in the early 1980's."

The world's second ranked women's ski jumper, Anette Sagen of Norway, was likewise upset. "I am truly disappointed by the IOC. Worldwide, people are working for equality for women, but the IOC has failed to do that. They have a double standard when it comes to women's ski jumping."

In May 2006, the International Ski Federation (FIS), the governing body for ski jumping, voted 114 to 1 that the women ski jumpers are qualified to compete. Subsequently, they formally requested the IOC add women's ski jumping to the 2010 Olympics. In addition, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee also sent requests to the IOC for inclusion.

"The ladies are ready to compete in the Olympics," said Fabien Ebenhoch, coach of the Italian Women's Ski Jumping team and former Austrian coach. "The World Jr. Championships were on a bigger hill than would be used in the Olympics, and the juniors have already done in 2006 what the seniors can do in 2010."

Last year, influential IOC member and FIS President Gian Franco Kasper told National Public Radio that ski jumping "seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view."

According to the IOC, there are not enough nations and participants to justify addition of the event. However, since 1995 women ski jumpers from over a dozen nations on three continents have been competing on a women's elite competition circuit. By 2010, women's ski jumping will have held four World Junior Championships and a World Championship.

In contrast, women's Ski Cross, which was accepted by the IOC for inclusion in Vancouver 2010, has half the number of athletes, competing in less than half the number of competitions on just one continent.

 

[Grace]

Wow.

"seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view."

this is deeply disturbing. a comment fit only for the 19th century. does anyone know if the decision is being protested?

 

[ski diva]

I don't know, but it was enough to give me the vapors! Excuse me, I better go unlace my corset!

 

[Quiver Queen]

"seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view"--sure, not in the third trimester of pregnancy (duh!), but any other time??? No problem, according to this M.D.! But, of course, this M.D. was running half-marathons for fun even when Olympic distance events were capped at 1500 meters because longer distances were "sure to kill the delicate female competitors." I'm totally shocked this kind of nonsense still persists, especially on the international stage.

 

[Jilly]

How about the almighty buck? We might pay to see ski jumping, but joe-blow public and anyone under 20 can understand skier-cross, it's roller derby on snow. I think that, the IOC, are searching for an answer for the how comes and why nots?? Now I must go put the laundry through the wringer-washer!!

 

[Little Lightning]

I wonder if the health reason they refer to is higher acl injuries in female athletes in sports like basketball and soccer? While the jury is out as to why the injuries are more frequent for women than men research has shown that the injuries often occur while landing from a jump or pivoting when running.

It would be interesting to see the numbers on how many of these women jumpers have had knee injuries vs. the number of men who have been injured.

Kathi

 

[homemaker]

medical reasons? That's just precious!
It reminds me of how, when I was young, girls weren't allowed to compete in the staning long-jump, but boys were.
I'm sure it was the same line of "reasoning"...very 19th century is right.

 

[ski diva]

With the Olympics approaching, I thought I'd bump this up.

These women are still being prevented from competing. Have you signed the petition?

 

[Snowsong]

boxing allowed

I just read an article that women's boxing is going to be permitted in 2012. How can they justify boxing for women but not permit jumping due to medical reasons?

 

[RachelV]

They're actually appealing again this Thursday and Friday, so hopefully there's some good news to come yet.

 

[altagirl]

I just read an article that women's boxing is going to be permitted in 2012. How can they justify boxing for women but not permit jumping due to medical reasons?

Did they end up allowing that? The article I read about women's boxing when it was under discussion was equally absurd.

Some.... trying to think of a word that won't get bleeped.... person on the committee said something about how a woman could get hit in the breasts, and breasts need to be protected because they need to provide milk for babies and women cannot be allowed to do anything to risk their ability to procreate or raise children...

It about made me lose my mind. This too, but good grief.

 

[pinto]

I never understood why downhill racing is okay, but ski jumping isn't. I'm not totally sure, but I think DH skiers reach higher speeds than nordic jumpers upon take-off.

 

[RachelV]

I'm pretty sure at this point the IOC is saying something about there not being sufficient depth in the international field to have an Olympic standard of competition. It doesn't have anything to do with safety as far as I know. From what I've read Canada is all for having the women jump but doesn't have the authority to overrule the IOC, or something.

There also used to be rules about a sport having had 2 world championships before being included in the Olympics, and womens' ski jumping has only had one, but from what I've read that rule isn't on the books anymore and shouldn't matter. There have also been sports -- womens' marathon was one example -- where the women's field was included after only 1 world champsionship event.

Anyways, I haven't read a ton about this so I might be wrong, but that's my understanding of things at this point.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm going to play devils advocate here:
I don't like, and in fact I'm annoyed by the claims of medical issues with women and these sports by the IOC, but I don't think its smart to add these sports(no matter the gender) if there is not a following to participate in it or watch it.


If the IOC can give me demographics that say that these sports should be left out for a real solid reason, then I am on board with their decision.
But please let it be a real reason.

 

[altagirl]

I'm going to play devils advocate here:
I don't like, and in fact I'm annoyed by the claims of medical issues with women and these sports by the IOC, but I don't think its smart to add these sports(no matter the gender) if there is not a following to participate in it or watch it.


If the IOC can give me demographics that say that these sports should be left out for a real solid reason, then I am on board with their decision.
But please let it be a real reason.

I think that ends up being a chicken and egg scenario. I mean, I've NEVER seen men's ski jumping on TV outside the Olympics (same is true for a lot of other Olympic sports). So how on earth would you ever see women's ski jumping outside the Olympics when there isn't really any publicity for ANY ski jumping in the United States unless it's during the Olympics? I would think the large majority of people watching men's ski jumping would also watch women's ski jumping.

I guess if there is a serious lack of competitors.... But again... the pinnacle of nordic ski jumping is the Olympics. If you're excluded from competing in the Olympics... why would most people bother to train at that sport? (Which has to be a big commitment - it's not like you can practice it just anywhere.) I would think that if it is approved as an Olympic sport, you'd see an increase in the number of female competitors as well.

I mean, DH mountain biking isn't an Olympic sport either, but it's not for either sex, so the pinnacle of the sport is the World Championships and World Cup titles. I'm totally fine with that. But if they do decide to make it an event, it had better be for both men AND women! :D

 

[Snowsong]

https://boxing.about.com/b/2009/08/19/womens-boxing-to-debut-at-2012-olympics.htm

There are several articles. This is just one. Hope the link works.

 

[SuZieCoyote]

I Signed the Petition

...just on general principle. I'm a fan of "let's just ski" and not particularly interested in all the park/jumping stuff. But to each, her own and a woman shouldn't be arbitrarily limited.

 

[ski diva]

I'm pretty sure at this point the IOC is saying something about there not being sufficient depth in the international field to have an Olympic standard of competition. It doesn't have anything to do with safety as far as I know. From what I've read Canada is all for having the women jump but doesn't have the authority to overrule the IOC, or something.

There also used to be rules about a sport having had 2 world championships before being included in the Olympics, and womens' ski jumping has only had one, but from what I've read that rule isn't on the books anymore and shouldn't matter. There have also been sports -- womens' marathon was one example -- where the women's field was included after only 1 world champsionship event.

Anyways, I haven't read a ton about this so I might be wrong, but that's my understanding of things at this point.

Take a look at the Fact page on the Let The Women Jump web site. It addresses a lot of these issues.

 

[Slidergirl]

If the same requirements that the women are being held to were applied to men's jumping right now, they wouldn't be in the Olympics. It's not a growing sport, and the countries participating aren't any more than the women's side.
When I've been in Germany, I've seen men's ski jumping televised. The crowds are HUGE. Women's jumping get large crowds over there, too.
The holder of the hill record on the large hill at Whistler is a WOMAN. She's Lindsay Van, of Park City UT. That's right, a woman. She has outjumped all of the men that will be competing there at the Olympics.
I've signed the petition, I've donated money at a fundraiser they held here in Park City. I attend their competitions here. I sure hope they get their chance at the OWG.

 

[ski diva]

An update. A disappointing update, at that:

Vancouver, Canada - The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear arguments in the case of the women ski jumpers suing the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) to participate in the 2010 Olympics, Ross Clark, Q.C., lead counsel for the plaintiffs confirmed this morning.

“We are very disappointed the Supreme Court of Canada does not view this as matter of national importance and will not have the opportunity to hear our arguments,” Clark said. “This case was not just about women ski jumpers. The textbook gender discrimination found by the lower court judge should have been examined by the highest court in the land in light of its significance to our Charter case.”

Deedee Corradini, president of Women’s Ski Jumping-USA and long-time advocate for the women’s case, declared herself very sad that the women are denied the Supreme Court opportunity, but she and the jumpers "won’t give up."

“We won’t stop working at this cause until women are ski jumping in the Olympics,” she said. “Although we are hugely disappointed by the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear us this time, we won’t give up. This is about human rights and discrimination. It’s a wrong that must be righted.

“These women are ready, they’re highly skilled athletes and given the chance, would have provided Olympic spectators with a thrilling and competitive performance in February at Whistler,” Corradini pointed out. “No qualified athlete should be denied the right to participate in the Olympics because of gender.”

Neither VANOC nor the International Olympic Committee, which made the decision to not allow women's ski jumping at the 2010 Games, immediately offered comment.