Women ski jumpers await International Olympic Committee's decision on 2010

CALGARY (CP) - The International Olympic Committee has 15-year-old ski jumper Katie Willis on pins and needles.

The Calgarian desperately hopes the IOC decides this week in Kuwait City to include women's ski jumping in the Olympic program and that she will soar for Canada at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.

"I'm very anxious to find out what the IOC is going to say to us," Willis said. "I hope in Vancouver we'll be able to be there with our male counterparts."

The IOC executive committee meets for two days starting Tuesday, when it will hear recommendations from its program commission on whether to add women's ski jumping, mixed doubles curling, skier-cross, team events in Alpine skiing, bobsled and luge and a biathlon mixed relay to the Winter Olympic menu.

One of the IOC's goals is for gender-equality at the Olympics and ski jumping is the last male-only sport in the Winter Games.

The International Ski Federation, or FIS, greased the wheels by announcing in May that a 90-metre women's event will be added to the 2009 world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic.

While the Vancouver organizing committee (VANOC) may be asked for input on the sport's inclusion in 2010, the IOC and FIS have the final say.

"We have always been open to considering any of the IOC's potentially recommended new sport disciplines to the 2010 Winter Games sports programs as they will enhance the Games experience and grow interest or participation in a sport or discipline," said Cathy Priestner-Allinger, VANOC's executive vice-president for sport, in an email.

In Canada, a full-court press for women's ski jumping in 2010 is underway.

Canadian Olympic Association president Michael Chambers has sent a letter in support of its inclusion to both VANOC and IOC president Jacques Rogge.

"The COC is behind adding that event, no question," COC vice-president Walter Sieber said. "I think we would have great results."

But Sieber says there is a major obstacle for women jumpers: The IOC's own program commission will not recommend adding the sport for 2010.

The main argument against it is there are not enough women and not enough countries participating.

The IOC's executive committee will make the decision, but it doesn't often go against recommendations from its program committee, Sieber said.

Willis and teammates Atsuko Tanaka, Nata De Leeuw and Zoya Lynch, all from Calgary, got together to write their own letter to send to VANOC head John Furlong as well as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"We have already achieved excellent results in international competitions," the women wrote. "To remain competitive, we need funding, and funding in Canada depends on the chance to stand upon the podium.

"If the IOC and VANOC give us a chance at the podium, our sport can continue to develop."

Canadians tend to be medal contenders in new Olympic sports. Snowboard cross and the team pursuit in long-track speedskating were new events at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy, and Canadians won two silver and a bronze in them.

Willis is ranked sixth and Tanaka and De Leeuw are in the top 20 among 45 women on the Continental Cup circuit.

"We have a realistic shot at medals in 2010," Ski Jump Canada chairman Brent Morrice said.

But Morrice says the issue goes beyond athletes winning medals.

"It would be a feather in the cap of Canada's sport system," he said. "It would show we can walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to gender equality.

"I really believe it's something that has to happen."

Willis, who took up the sport when she was eight, says she won't quit if the IOC shoots women's ski jumping down this week because she would still hold out hope for 2014.

"I'm going to keep on training because I'm still young and I know I'll be there one day," she said.

© The Canadian Press, 2006