How High Must Women Jump?

The ski jump is scored on distance and style.

On distance, women have come a long way.  Ski jumping is the single remaining Winter Olympics sport closed to women.

On style, women will severely fall short.  No female competitor will bring home Olympic gold in 2010 from a ski jump event. 

In November 2006, the Executive Board of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) rejected the establishment of a women's ski jumping event in the 2010 Olympics on the grounds of a technicality involving the number of "qualified" women ski jumpers and the number of countries representing the sport.  The point of contention lies in the exception made for men's ski jumping. 

According to the International Ski Federation:
Number of registered male ski jumpers = 58% of the required universality under Rule 47 of the Olympic Charter.
Number of registered female ski jumpers = 52% of the required universality under Rule 47 of the Olympic Charter.

Both do not meet the minimum participation requirements, but men's ski jumping is "grandfathered" as part of the Olympic games, having been admitted prior to 1949. 

Consider 1949, when women were widely excluded from competing in many Olympic sports due to gender-biased beliefs and descriptives such as "inappropriate" and "at risk."

Fast forward fifty years to 2009.

15 female ski jumpers from five different countries brought their case to the Supreme Court of British Columbia, citing gender discrimination.

The decision by British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon denied a challenge to the Vancouver Organizing Committee's ability to reverse the decision of the IOC.  In her ruling, she expressed that "the plaintiffs will be denied this opportunity for no reason other than their sex," but that the IOC was subject to neither the jurisdiction of the British Columbia Supreme Court nor the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

There are questions of civil rights and discrimination issues taking place around the world on a daily basis.  This particular case has received a great deal of attention due to the nearness of the 2010 Olympics and the documented progress of International Women's Ski Jumping since 1994.  This is bigger than the sport, however.  This and every cause brought to light will allow future generations of men and women of all backgrounds to compete on equal platforms of distance and style.  And when they jump, they shouldn’t have to ask, “how high?” 

As of the writing of this entry:
Women will not be allowed to compete in the category of ski jump in the 2010 Olympics.
The plaintiffs have not declared whether they will seek to appeal the court ruling.
10,953 people signed the petition to "Let Women Ski Jump in 2010"

References & Links of Interest

Judge Fenlon's 42-pg ruling:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/dl/00/69/78/-/69784/prop=data/1y2401t/69784.pdf

To sign the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/let-women-ski-jump-in-2010

To support and fund the U.S. Women Ski Jumpers:
http://www.womensskijumpingusa.com/

The IOC's response to the BC Supreme Court ruling:
http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=3064

Amenda-Ming Chen
Aon Consulting
WIN- Los Angeles

Comments

[CDR]

Lack of integration of diversity has plagued the athletic arena since the beginning of organized athletics, and it continues to limit people from equal participation. Women and people from select countries have been turned away from Olympic competition since its start decades ago, and this discrimination needs to be addressed. There are obvious missing pieces of information as to why certain groups of people are banned from certain events/competitions, but this subject continues to be taboo and hush-hush, thus halting forward progression. People must be made aware of the inequality poisoning the Olympic athletics system, and with this knowledge will come empowerment to make a change. Active steps must be taken in order to renew the honesty of elite athletic competition. Athletics in itself is made out of truth and honesty. The person with the farthest jump or the fastest time takes home the gold medal despite his or her gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. There are no loopholes or special circumstances which allows one to favor one person to win over the other. No vote. Everyone has an equal chance at achieving greatness, and this concept needs to be brought back to the forefront of the Olympic policy maker's minds.

[Rachael]

I agree completely. People should not be denied something that they are good at, or something that they have a passion for because of what they look like or where they come from. Everyone, and that means everyone should be allowed to compete whether male or female. Gender discrimination is unfair and wrong.

[Kylee]

I most definately agree. Many people miss out on amazing opportunities because of where they come from, what they look like, or how much money they have. I have seen situations like this time after time and it's funny to me that people do not take the time to stop and think how they would feel in certain situations before they act upon them. Many people are not open to diversity and in some cases, that is rather sad.