Women's jumpers and slopestylers hope for Olympic nod

By Sven Busch Oct 24, 2010, 12:03 GMT

Acapulco - Women's ski-jumping hopes to make its Olympic debut at last in 2014 and seven other events also seek approval on Monday for the Sochi Games.

The International Olympic Committee executive board has the 2014 programme on its agenda at meetings in Mexico as it continues to make the Games more attractive for a young audience.

Bidding events include spectacular slopestyle which would give American snowboard star Shaun White a chance to go for two golds in Russia after grabbing halfpipe gold in Vancouver.

Ski slopestyle, ski halfpipe, a biathlon mixed relay and team events in alpine skiing, luge and figure skating also hope for their Olympic debut in 2014.

Women's ski-jumping has a strong case but the IOC only appears ready for provisional inclusion. Olympians have concerns that the event lacks depth and is set to make a final decision after a review of the 2011 world championship competition.

The women were denied Olympic entry into the Vancouver 2010 Games despite two lawsuits.

Women's jumping made its world championship debut in 2009 and a World Cup circuit is planned for next year.

Inclusion of the event would be another step towards Olympic gender equality as it would make Nordic combined skiing the only event on the Olympic programme in which women don't compete.

The Vancouver Games saw a record 40.51 per cent women among the athletes and the percentage would further rise with the women's jumpers.

Slopestyle and ski halfpipe would appeal to the young audience the IOC has started to embrace on and off the playing fields. The superstar White and others would get an even bigger presence to further change the image of the Games.

World ski supremo Gian Franco Kasper is 'very optimistic' that his five events will get the Olympic nod and so is White.

'I want the double in Sochi,' he said.

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