VANCOUVER - A B.C. Court of Appeal is hearing arguments about why female ski jumpers should have the right to compete at the 2010 Winter Games.

Fourteen women are appealing a lower court ruling that found that while their rights were being violated because men can compete at the Games and they can't, the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee doesn't have the power to change the International Olympic Committee decision.

The president of Women's Ski Jumping USA, Deedee Corradini, says despite the fact the appeal hearing is coming just three months before the Games, there is plenty of time to get the women's event onto the 2010 program.

She says Vancouver organizers have had more than a year to develop a contingency plan in case the women were victorious in court and she expects them to have one.

To include a sport at the last minute would require changes to many elements of the Games, including transportation, security and ticketing.

Even if the Court of Appeal sides in the women's favour, Vancouver organizers could still appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.