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March 28, 2008 - In 2002, Anmaar Habib was the first female skier to represent Pakistan in any international ski event. She now has her sights set on an even bigger goal: to represent her country at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Habib, who prefers to be called AJ, is an 18-year-old high school senior and competitive skier. She lives and trains at Sugar Bowl in Northern California but it’s approximately 8,000 miles away, in the mountains of her native country of Pakistan, where AJ intends to make her mark.

Listen to this NPR interview and hear about the challenges AJ faces. Arduous journeys to the Karakoram mountain range, Taliban control of the one civilian ski resort in Pakistan and restrictions on women’s ski clothing are just some of the hurdles in her path. Still, AJ is determined to use her downhill skills to ski into history.

Filed under: General, Ski, Vancouver Winter Games 2010 by jane
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Female ski-jumpers can’t compete in 2010 Olympics

Jan. 9, 2008 -It may come as a surprise that female ski-jumpers are not currently allowed to participate in the Olympics. Well, maybe not that big a surprise. Despite pressure from the Canadian government to end this discrimination, female athletes have lost the battle to gain the right to compete.

A group of ski jumpers lodged a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission over the construction of a $120 million Olympic Park in Vancouver for the 2010 winter games, arguing that it would break the law to spend public money on a building that discriminates.

Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee remains unconvinced. The IOC claims the female side of the sport still needs development and falls short of basic standards for inclusion at the Games. Huh? The International Ski Federation’s approved women’s jumping for international competition by a 114 to 1 margin in 2006.

In a statement issued Wednesday morning, the IOC said the women’s sport will still not be allowed and does not meet the committee’s technical requirements. They will however be closely following the development of Women’s Ski Jumping with a view to its possible inclusion in future Olympic Games. Uh…thanks guys.

Filed under: News Bytes, Ski, Vancouver Winter Games 2010 by jane
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Athletes take flight at Whistler Olympic Park

WHISTLER, BC, Dec. 29, 2007 — With construction of the ski jumps and Nordic trails now complete for the 2010 Winter Games, Whistler Olympic Park is ready to welcome the first Nordic combined and ski jumping competitions on January 1-5, 2008.

“To see some of the world’s best ski jumping athletes literally flying at Whistler Olympic Park will be inspiring,” said Cathy Priestner Allinger, VANOC’s Executive Vice President, Sport, Paralympic Games and Venue Management. “Ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes from around the world - both men and women - now have another world-class facility where they can train and compete, and where women ski jumpers in particular can continue to develop their sport in pursuit of their opportunity to compete in future Olympic Winter Games.”

For more information on the sports of Nordic combined and ski jumping and for more complete details on the operations at Whistler Olympic Park, visit http://www.vancouver2010.com/ and/or http://www.whistlerolympicpark.com/.

Filed under: News Bytes, Olympics, Ski, Vancouver Winter Games 2010 by jane
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Fiest headlines Vancouver 2010 Countdown Concert

In celebration of the two-year countdown to the 2010 Winter Games, the Cultural Olympiad team proudly presents a spectacular gala concert featuring Canada’s new generation of leading singer-songwriters. On February 12, 2008, the venerable Orpheum Theatre will resound with the eclectic blend of edgy acoustic pop, contemporary indie rock, and symphonic soundscapes.

One of Canada’s brightest rising stars, Feist headlines the evening. Feist will appear with her internationally-acclaimed band and will also be joined by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing world debut orchestral arrangements of a selection of her songs. These arrangements were especially commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad for this performance.

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