Women ski jumpers pushing Olympic bid

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Women ski jumpers are pressing their quest to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics, says their attorney who asked Canada's highest court to hear their appeal.

The International Olympic Committee voted in 2006 not to include women's ski jumping at the 2010 Games, saying the sport was not developed enough.

Time is of the essence and Ross Clark, the lawyer who filed the request with Canada's Supreme Court Tuesday, said he recognizes it's a long shot, the Toronto Star reported. Two lower courts have ruled against the women, saying the country's Charter of Rights doesn't extend to having a say in which sports are included in the Olympics.

"I recognize that this is a tough road," Ross said. "We may not succeed, on both grounds. Even getting leave is a tough thing; one in 10 are successful."

The 2010 Winter Games will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 12-28.

A spokesperson for the13 female jumpers contends there's more at stake than just whether the women can compete in this Olympics.

"It's even bigger than women's rights. It's human rights," Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping USA, told the Star.

"Internationally, it has implications for whether organizations can come into a country, such as the (International Olympic Committee) and ignore the Constitution of that country."