It’s Not Over -- Women Ski Jumpers File Appeal

NEWS RELEASE

July 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Deborah Folka, APR, 604.517.1339
604.312.8384 mobile; deborah@dlfcommunications.com



It’s Not Over -- Women Ski Jumpers File Appeal

Vancouver – The women ski jumpers denied justice in last week’s BC Supreme Court decision have decided to file an appeal with the BC Court of Appeals seeking a ruling on men and women’s ski jumping events at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“It’s not over,” Deedee Corradini, president of Women’s Ski Jump-USA and spokesperson for the group, said today. “We took a few days for our lawyers to review last week’s judgment and to canvass our plaintiffs to see what everyone thought and now we’re ready to continue our fight to get the women into 2010.”

According to lawyer Ross Clark, Q.C., the appeal will be based on the argument that VANOC must host the Games in accordance with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. “It cannot host events on Canadian soil that implement discrimination,” Clark pointed out.

“We believe with an expedited ruling in September that still leaves plenty of time for VANOC to plan and host a single women’s ski jumping event next February,” Corradini said. “When we hosted the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002, we had contingency plans for everything. I’m sure they can accommodate us, especially given all the supportive comments they’ve made about the women ski jumpers’ situation.”

Highly ranked Canadian jumper Katie Willis says she is “thrilled” the fight is still on.

“We were so disheartened by last week’s decision, but we’re competitors: we won’t give up,” Willis said.


World champion ski jumper Lindsey Van echoed Willis’s comments. “I’m glad we’re going to appeal the court’s ruling. We have earned our right to be at the Games, just like all the other top athletes: with hard work, discipline and perseverance. I want my shot at Olympic gold.”

2010 Olympic Decision for Women Ski Jumpers

Sadly, the 2010 Winter Games won't include the women ski jumpers.

Fifteen female athletes sued Vancouver Olympic Games Organizing Committee
to get their sport into the 2010 Games. The B.C. Supreme Court has rejected a bid by women ski jumpers to be included in the 2010 Winter Games.



Check out Ski Channel's breaking news update. Click here to read more on the decision.


Women's reaction at the ruling from the Times Colonist.

American, Jessica Jerome said she is “extremely disheartened.”
“I feel like we were trying to do the right thing to advance the sport as a whole, not just for the girls currently competing, but for the upcoming generation as well. Unfortunately, this decision will affect a lot of talented skiers. I am hopeful the future of women’s ski jumping will look more promising.”

Ski jumping is the only sport in the Olympic Winter Games not open to both men and women. Supporters are still confident that woman's ski jumping will debut at the 2014 Olympic Games, in Sochi, Russia. And there is talk of an appeal for 2010. Some good news concerning the 2014 Olympics is that Halfpipe skiing will be included!
xoxo,
ski girl