Women Ski Jumpers Lose Appeal

Source: CBC news

Posted: 11/14/09 10:09AM
Filed Under: Main


Women ski jumpers from Canada and the U.S. hoping to have their event included in the 2010 Olympics have lost their case before the B.C. Court of Appeal.

The appeal was dismissed in a unanimous decision Friday in Vancouver after two days of hearings.
The Appeal Court judges stood by the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court in July. In that ruling, Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon said that while it was discriminatory to exclude the women's event, Vancouver's Olympic organizing committee (VANOC) could not be held responsible.

The skiers had argued that VANOC should have been compelled to stage a women's ski jump event — even though it was not sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) — because VANOC is subject to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms, with its guarantees of gender equality.

After the ruling was announced, the women said they were devastated and hadn't decided what their next course of action would be.

"I thought they would go the other way, for sure," reigning world champion ski jumper Lindsay Van of Utah said as she wiped away tears. "I thought we had a very good argument that was very much set and it didn't seem it would go the other direction."

'Like Taliban of Olympics'

"The Canadian court system is weak," Van added. "They can't even stand up to the IOC. [The IOC] can come in here and do whatever they want. That's scary. It's like the Taliban of the Olympics."

The women could seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but that process would take months. The Winter Olympics begin Feb. 12.

"I'm not going to commit to anything, but I think it's very late," said Ross Clark, the lawyer for the women.

The Appeal Court judges did not give reasons for their decision but said a written version of their reasons will be issued next week.

Vancouver Games organizers said they were glad the process was over, but they were sad for the women.

"I don't like these kinds of days. We are, first and foremost, men and women of sport and we believe in athletics," said John Furlong, VANOC's chief executive.

"This is a matter that's been far from our reach and our influence and we simply didn't have any jurisdiction here.… These girls have tried very hard, they have put up a very good fight."

The IOC voted in 2006 not to include women's ski jumping at the Games, saying the sport had not met the required technical criteria.

With files from The Canadian Press


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Well, a rule is a rule and that's not much they can do about it, lets move on, girls!

Thankfully, BC Supreme Court knows what they are doing.

Why are we still dealing with gender issues in 2009? I don't give a rats ass if the IOC says they don't meet the requirements as a contested Olympic medal sport. Those dinosaurs should abide by Canadian laws, not their own arrogant archaic views. They should be encouraging these pioneering women, not throwing obstacles in front of them. Disgraceful!

Let them compete. This is ridiculous.

Why are we still dealing with gender issues in 2009? I don't give a rats ass if the IOC says they don't meet the requirements as a contested Olympic medal sport. Those dinosaurs should abide by Canadian laws, not their own arrogant archaic views. They should be encouraging these pioneering women, not throwing obstacles in front of them. Disgraceful!

Let them compete. This is ridiculous.

The main issue is there aren't enough competitors. Getting a gold medal is a prestigious award for any athlete: why should it be easy? Each Olympic sport has gone through years of history before it ever became part of the Olympics, and women ski jumping shouldn't be any different. The IOC isn't sexist (I was going to say was never sexist but that would be a lie), but it's just trying to preserve an award.

Moreover, the women here are suing the wrong people. VANOC cannot let they compete because that won't be abiding to IOC rules. If VANOC broke a ruling from the IOC, no Olympics would ever come to Canada, ever again. If the women want to be suing someone, they should sue the IOC, not VANOC.

The main issue is there aren't enough competitors. Getting a gold medal is a prestigious award for any athlete: why should it be easy? Each Olympic sport has gone through years of history before it ever became part of the Olympics, and women ski jumping shouldn't be any different. The IOC isn't sexist (I was going to say was never sexist but that would be a lie), but it's just trying to preserve an award.

Moreover, the women here are suing the wrong people. VANOC cannot let they compete because that won't be abiding to IOC rules. If VANOC broke a ruling from the IOC, no Olympics would ever come to Canada, ever again. If the women want to be suing someone, they should sue the IOC, not VANOC.

Like I said, I don't care whether the first women's ski jumping event lacks enough competitors. Women's hockey? That's been a Canada-USA contest from the beginning, but every sport needs a hand up/support in the beginning.

VANOC is falling into line because the IOC has told them to, so I have no problem with VANOC being sued. Everyone's passing responsibility off to someone else. I love the Olympics, but I'm not about to sacrifice my principles or the laws of this land to appease any one.

The IOC should have done the right thing rather than adhere to their 'rule book'. This is an organization that talks about fair play, the power of sport to unite, and sportsmanlike conduct, then behaves in quite the opposite way.

Corruption pisses people off, but so does hypocrisy. Shame on Canada for sacrificing the laws of this country to make the IOC happy. They've devalued our Charter of Rights and made a mockery of it. The IOC are often out of touch with reality, this is just another example of their arrogance and heavy handedness.

I'm not impressed at all. History will not look favourably upon them.

Like I said, I don't care whether the first women's ski jumping event lacks enough competitors. Women's hockey? That's been a Canada-USA contest from the beginning, but every sport needs a hand up/support in the beginning.

VANOC is falling into line because the IOC has told them to, so I have no problem with VANOC being sued. Everyone's passing responsibility off to someone else. I love the Olympics, but I'm not about to sacrifice my principles or the laws of this land to appease any one.

The IOC should have done the right thing rather than adhere to their 'rule book'. This is an organization that talks about fair play, the power of sport to unite, and sportsmanlike conduct, then behaves in quite the opposite way.

Corruption pisses people off, but so does hypocrisy. Shame on Canada for sacrificing the laws of this country to make the IOC happy. They've devalued our Charter of Rights and made a mockery of it. The IOC are often out of touch with reality, this is just another example of their arrogance and heavy handedness.

I'm not impressed at all. History will not look favourably upon them.

Women's hockey has the support because there are many competitors. If I didn't remember wrong, there were less than two dozen competitors for ski jumping. Why should others have an easier chance for a medal? The IOC didn't not allow the sport because of women, or else, they wouldn't be allowing other women sports.

VANOC, like any Olympic committee, follows the rules and regulations by the IOC. This is no different from other Olympic committees. If the women won this case, VANOC will just cancel the entire sport all together.

Not too worry, those girls will have their chance to compete in 2014!