Let Women Ski Jumpers into the 2014 Olympics!

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-02-23 11:56:00 UTC
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With discriminatory policies that excludes quality women athletes from competing in the Games for no good reason, no wonder a horse took second place on the Associated Press' list of the top female athletes of 2009. Why not let women show their stuff?

Ski jumping is the only sport in the Winter Olympics that excludes women. Female ski jumpers have been trying to get this changed for years, and keep getting told: next time. While the courts in Canada, 2010 Olympic hosts, ruled on a lawsuit brought by female ski jumpers that gender discrimination was occurring, the International Olympic Committee is not under their jurisdiction.

Why keep women out? Last year, the head of the International Ski Federation made the ludicrous assertion that ski jumping might somehow mess with a lady's uterus and harm her ability to bear children. Meanwhile, the IOC has claimed women were excluded because there aren't enough quality athletes, and they didn't want to cheapen the gold medal. Even though, when ski jumpers lined up to test the ramp constructed for the Vancouver Olympics, a woman, Lindsey Van, set the record -- among both men and women.

Not surprisingly, however, the decision by the IOC might not be solely determined based on the quality and quantity of athletes for a sport. Dick Pound, an IOC member, warned that the committee might make its decision next time around based on petty ego considerations, saying, "Oh yeah, I remember them. They're the ones that embarrassed us and caused us a lot of trouble in Vancouver. Maybe they should wait another four years. Or eight years or whatever it may be." As the National Organization for Women (NOW) points out, this is a classic example of women being punished for standing up and speaking out. I mean, they already have the gall to be athletes, and now the want people to listen to them talk about their rights too?

This kind of sexism has no place in the Olympics -- tell the IOC that, when the Games come to Russia in 2014, they better bring women ski jumpers with them.

Photo credit: Patrick Hoesley

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.

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Ask the International Olympic Committee to Include Women's Ski Jumping In 2014 Games
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