Ski Jumping

Female ski jumpers looking for inclusion at the 2010 Olympic Games are hoping to be granted an earlier appeal, in order to allow time to prepare for their inclusion next winter. The group of women are heading to the B.C. Court of Appeal this Friday in a bid to have their case expedited.

Ross Clark, a lawyer for the women, is meeting Friday with representatives of VANOC to get information so that the time needed for the hearing can be estimated.

If VANOC chooses to cross-appeal, the proceedings would cover all evidence brought forward in the first hearing. However, if VANOC opts not to cross-appeal, the arguments could be as short as half a day.

"We have a tentative court booking for a half day on Sept. 28," said Deborah Folka, a representative for the athletes and Clark.

"If VANOC doesn't cross appeal, we could hold the hearing that day," said Folka, indicating in that scenario, a decision could be made as early as the start of October.

Though one woman has stepped down from the fight, an appeal was filed, and the hope now is that the hearing date can be moved earlier to allow VANOC to re-jig the schedule to include women's ski jumping, should the appeal succeed.

"It would take very little time to organize another event," said Brent Morrice, chairman for Ski Jumping Canada. "The officials are in place and the volunteers are in place so it would not be impossible to get it organized with 60 to 90 days lead time."

The 15 female ski jumpers filed a suit against VANOC in April, saying that the organizing committee had breached the Canadian Charter by allowing men, but not women, to jump at the 2010 Olympics. VANOC countered, saying the decision belonged to the IOC.

While B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon agreed that discrimination had taken place, the ruling was that the IOC as an international organization did not need to conform to the Canadian Charter.