Friday, December 12

Women's Ski Jumping

How many of you know that ski jumping is an Olympic event? Of course it is, we've seen it, right? Anything about it stand out to you? Me either...'til it was pointed out.

Did you know that ski jumping is the only activity in the Olympic Winter Games that does not allow women to compete? I would encourage all of you go to this link and sign the petition to allow Women's Ski Jumping in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

7 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

It's not the only one. Women can't compete in the Nordic Combined either in the Winter Games. It's highly unlikely that they will allow women to ski jump in Vancouver since the Games are only 14 months away.

Tamaran said...

Thanks for informing me about the Nordic Combined. I did not know that. Correct me if I'm wrong, the Nordic Combined allows athletes to compete in both cross-country skiing and ski jumping. By fighting to allow Women Ski Jumping in the Winter Olympics, it would open a door for women to be included in the Nordic Combined.

I understand that it is highly unlikely, but I still feel it is a good cause. If we don't continue these efforts, we may find ourselves at this same point in 2014.

Unknown said...

That is correct about the Nordic Combined, it's both of them.

I agree something needs to be done, I just think it would be more effective to start working to get it involved in the 2014 Games over the 2010 Games.

The Summer Games also have inequalities as well because women do not run the same long distances as men, and they can also not do the long walking races as well.

Tamaran said...

Agreed.

Do you know of anything that is being done for 2014? In the limited research I have done, I believe it was decided in 2006 to not include Women's Ski Jumping in 2010. That being said, we are just over a year away from that point again.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure at the moment. I would imagine that it would be included in the 2014 Games. In the 2002 Games that were in SLC, there were girls campaigning for ski jumping up at the events. So the process for fighting to get ski jumping has been around for a while now and I would assume that by the time the Sochi Games come, it will be included.

Unknown said...

The only problem about the Sochi Games though is that Sochi is in the Southern part of Russia by the Black Sea, so most of the events will have to be held outside of the city which could be problematic. It will be interesting to see what happens there with all the skiing and nordic events.