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.
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