Women's ski jumping joins Olympics

By Sven Busch Apr 6, 2011, 14:29 GMT

London - Women's ski jumping and five other events will join the Winter Olympics from the 2014 Games in the Russian resort of Sochi, the International Olympic Committee decided on Wednesday.

The IOC executive board in London approved women's ski jumping, men's and women's ski halfpipe, a mixed relay event in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating.

'These are exciting, entertaining events that perfectly complement the existing events on the sports programme, bring added appeal and increase the number of women participating at the Games,' said IOC President Jacques Rogge.

'I look forward to watching the athletes compete in these events in Sochi 2014.'

Women's ski jumping had lost a legal battle to be on the programme at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. The IOC argued in the past that the sport did not have enough top competitors.

However, IOC officials were said to be impressed by the women's event at the world championships in Oslo last month.

Women's ski jumping made its debut at the worlds in 2009 and by the time of Sochi will have had three competitions at the global stage, with Val di Fiemme, Italy, to stage the 2013 event.

In addition, a top level World Cup series is set to make its debut next season. Up to now, the women have competed in a second tier Continental Cup format.

There is no immediate place in the winter programme for a team Alpine skiing event and slopestyle events in snowboard and freestyle skiing in which competitors perform tricks while going down the mountain.

The IOC wants more time to study the technical aspects of the events but they could still be added to the Sochi programme, officials said.

The IOC said it looks into several factors when it adds events to the Games, such as growing universality, gender equity, youth appeal and added value to the Games. Also taken into account are the cost of infrastructure and the overall size of the Games.

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