Women's ski jump World Cup circuit a big step toward Olympic inclusion in 2014
The International Ski Federation has agreed to start a World Cup circuit for women's ski jumping, starting with the 2011-12 season — a decision that greatly improves the sport's bid to be included in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Ski jumping is the only sport in the Winter Olympics that does not include women.
FIS, which has been supportive of women's ski jumping, will recommend to the International Olympic Committee that the sport be included in 2014 in Russia. The IOC will likely make a decision sometime this fall.
"It's fantastic news," says Calgary's Brent Morrice, chairman of Ski Jumping Canada.
"The FIS has been behind the circuit for the past four years. They've supported female ski jumpers all along. They recommended including it in the 2010 Games and it was the IOC that said no, they're not ready.
"I don't want to comment on what the IOC will do but I personally would be extremely surprised if it isn't included in the Games in 2014."
FIS noted the success of the Continental Cup, a circuit that started in 2005. There was a women's world championship in 2009 and there will be one in 2011.
Those are important parts of the criteria the IOC uses to determine which sports they accept for Olympic competition.
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