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Officials warn female ski jumpers to tread lightly

PATRICK BRETHOUR

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 11:10 AM EDT 10/01/08

Says public risks reaction from IOC and exclusion from the 2014 Olympics ...Read the full article

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  1. bj sutherland from Victoria, Canada writes: Let the women compete you old power hungry fuddy duddy fat cats.
  2. Chris Eaton from Fredericton, NB, writes: Yeah, heaven forbid that women might have to actually play by the rules to get a sport included.
  3. Gerry Pankhurst from Westport Ontario, Canada writes: Still not clear to me. Do the woman want to be included on the mens' team or do they want a league of their own? If the former; why not let them? If it's the latter; no dice. What ever happened to the much vaunted matter of equality of sexes? I don't buy the difference in weight excuse. Some of those Japanese jumpers are pretty light and they do a credible job against their larger opponents..
  4. Todd Sandrock from Canada writes: Yawn.

    Who really cares? It's not like the Olympics are anything but privately run, for profit, entertainment.

    They are not accountable. Why should be expect democratic standards to apply to a nondemocratic cabal?

    Think of it the Olympics as a monster truck rally. Except people bizarrely compete to have the cabal of monster truck organizers, on whim, bring the event to their local arena, empty the wallets of local governments and citizens, then leave town.
  5. m mac from Canada writes: As I stated yesterday this action is probably undermining all the efforts made by women ski jumpers around the world. This appears to be true. Canadian officials would not be making comments urging caution unless they had heard feedback from other IOC members. Comment from other Scandinavian groups had expressed hope for 2012 but the actions of one self centered individual and her stage mother could derail all those efforts.
  6. Stan L from Canada writes: First off, what lesson are these mother's teaching their girls? There is no injustice here but there are rules that everyone must follow. I cannot by any standard see how this is gender bias by any stretch of the imagination in fact, I would think that this would be a good opportunity to mobilize and get a good arguement going for 2014...but for 2010? they have simply not met the criteria, a criteria which is applied the same to men and women alike. These mother's are teaching their daughter to be spoiled, self-absorbed brats who in the absense of the actual work can litigate what they want. Also, by extension Ms Guergis (the MP in charge of this) yesterday said she would support them....sad, one would think that if Ms. Guergis was actually intersted in women's issues she would stop bandwagon jumping and put some actual thought into why her party decimated all the funding for women's issues programs.
  7. E B from Canada writes: Im not sure why the Canadian Human Rights board would have much say in what is decided for the Olympics. The Olympics is an International body that represents all countries involved in the Olympics. Gender equality isnt represented in all countries that participate in the Olympics so why should the Canadian HRB have any influence on future events.
    Secondly this really does seem like a slap in the face to any woman trying to get equalization. Instead of following the rules and trying to present the case based on merit and value, they are trying to use the gender card (much like the race card) to get their own way. This can bite them in the butt if they are not careful. Its like the old saying goes..'I want to be hired based on qualifications, not because of my gender' The sport may not be taken seriously if they are allowed in based on gender only instead of skill and merit.
  8. A W from Canada writes: How jumping off a ramp on a hill is even considered a sport? (let alone an Olympic sport) I have no idea.....
  9. Chris Krawczyk from writes: The article proves once again how corrupt the IOC actually is. Who are they to dictate to the public what is a sport and what isn't?

    However, why should we be surprised? The IOC has been assuming that same elitist, aristocratic, and better than everyone else stance for over a century now. It's time to clean house. The IOC needs to be dismantled and rebuilt from scratch. Fire the entire IOC.

    It's time for the olympics to belong to the world. I agree with Todd Sandrock above. It is run like a monster truck rally. Where I disagree is that the Olympics, and the ideals they represent, have become far too important to dismiss.

    I think we should try to rebuild the Olympics with new, properly democratic, oversight. Any organization that can not withstand free speech and democratic debate does not deserve to exist. The current IOC is such an organization. Keep fighting ladies.
  10. E B from Canada writes: Just one other question...how is this a HRB issue other than if the womens sport is not equally funded in proportion to the number of men in the sport?I still do not see any bearing on this being a Canadian humans right issue in regards to the Olympics.
  11. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Sliding down a steep snow covered ramp is a sport? Try leaping up onto the ramp and sliding UP the ramp to the top, now that's a challenge!
  12. Stan L from Canada writes: Chris Krawczyk.....I would agree with you IF the IOC didn't have a well established protocol for the inclusion of new sports. The decsions about this are made by a commitee of men and women alike which in reality discounts your clain of unfair and undemocratic. The truth is that the gals just haven't met that criteria yet. For example, one of the many criteria/rules is that they do not add a new sport within 4 years of an Olympics....the next Olymips is only 2 years away. How can the IOC add the sport and be fair to the other countries who would have no idea that this sport would be on the roster for 2010?
  13. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Hey! I just checked my calender, its 2008!

    IOC processes be d@**ed, there is no way they should still have any olympic sports that do not include women's teams from around the world. What does it take to drag these GUYS into the 21st Century?

    And can we please revoke Dick Pound's Canadian citizenship? He always takes the anti-Canadian position in every dispute. Pound Dick
  14. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes: Public money flows into this event. Lots of public money...

    So why does Canada tolerate such sexist nonsense???
  15. Stan L from Canada writes: If the ladies get away with this.....the gold medals they will invariably receive should be fool's gold. They are an insult to the atheletes and sport organizations aroudn the world who follow the rules in promoting their sport. IF the IOC was so intolerant how did ladies snowboarding get into the Olympics?
  16. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Thank-you Ruth Walker for raising my next question: the Canadian tax money that goes into this boon-doggle.

    If the Olympics is supposed to be about amateur sport, why can't teams, no matter how low-rent, compete?
  17. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Ruth, the government funds something, its up to the population to build it into a sport worthy of olympic competition. It is actually that simple, nothing sexist about it. Build a sport worthy of olympic competition and it will be included. Women and men are not by the laws of nature entitled to the exact same things in life as their gender counterparts. For instance I'd probably hurt my career if I came into work in pumps and a skirt, and no matter how hard I may try, I just can't seem to carry a baby full term!
  18. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair Langmuir....what a ridiculous statement......if you want a Koombaya approach to sports like that, then what's the point of sports at all? I mean seriously, with no criteria whatsoever anybody who feels they would like to enter can? Then what's the point of having the Canadian teams qualify for their sport? what's the point of qualifying at all? Why don't we forgo the medals in the Olympics and just give everyone who shows up a participation ribbon and then we can take them all to Pizza Hut after for a Pizza........the idea here is excellence in sports.
  19. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Blair, because they're at the community centre, rec leagues and college intramurals having a bit of fun.
  20. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Eddie the Eagle was the most popular (with the audience) jumper in the history of the olympics. Next most popular competitors (with the audience) were the Jamacian Bobsled team. But the IOC changed the rules to make sure those things din't recurr.

    Its JUST sports. Sports is about (a) pleasing yourself with your best performance, and (b) please the onlookers, who are the reason this is going on in public instead of in private.

    Ohhh, or maybe its about big $$ from broadcasters and the weak egos of the Guys Club. Where's Canada's Women's Biathalon team when we need them: Ladies! Ready! Aim! Fire!
  21. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Stan L , I ask why make sports such a big deal? And why is my tax money going into it? If you want to have such a big deal, let the sponsors & audience pay. Its still just a bunch of jocks skating, skiing and ballroom dancing (hee hee)

    Tax $$ to help pay for all the performance enhancing drugs and for paying for the cover-ups?
  22. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair....you should probably bone up on these things before you comment. The IOC did not change the rules to make sure people didn't see popular competitors.....they did however, add criteria to qualification for events so that unqualified people weren't competing at an Olympic level in a potentially dangerous situation (ie: how charming would the Eddie the Eagle story be with his brains spattered all over that ramp?.....) There IS a difference, last Winter Olympics, arguably the most popular guys was Bode Miller in the past we have had the battle of Brian's Alberto Tomba and so on and so on.....popularilty quashing is not what they are about.

    If all you want out of life is to please yourself with your sport....then the reality is that you are a recreational sports buff who is not intersted in sport as a career and you are probably best to leave yourself at a certain level....

    Also, you never really answered my question....if the IOC is so gender biased how did ladies snowboarding get added to the roster in 1998?
  23. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair.....if sports is not big deal, then why should you care if the ladies get in for ski jumping? I am not getting your rationale....first they are a gender biased corrupt organization and then you say who cares anyway....do you have an opinion about the ladies one way or another? If so what is it?
  24. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Blair (and anybody else who doesn't think this is an abhorrent waste of time) he's a simple analogy that will explain the situation. If the central bank of a sovereign nation decided to print more money because everybody liked money and wanted some more, they would serve to make that currency less valuable. Printing money makes it more available and less scarce and each monetary unit loses purchasing power as more money is printed, and if a central bank printed too much of it, the currency itself would become worthless. If there is no substantial assets backing the bank's note/money, or an accepted belief that there is, money of that country or area becomes worthless. Using that comparison for our Olympics, 'printing' or awarding too many gold medals in sports 5 people in 3 countries compete in lessons the quality of that currency, that award. If everybody in the world was given an olympic medal it would cease to have any value whatsoever. Would you really expect the IOC to destroy the value of the gold medal by letting any old sport in?
  25. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: My opinion is that while participating in sports is a personal taste (albiet a healthy one) the modern olympics is a corrupt monstrosity. The Canadian gov't should not be putting tax money into it.

    Some time back in the early 1970's the IOC should have been forced to open every single competition to Women's & Men's teams equally. Why should it bothers some folk that the first few years would be very amateur? Its about amateur sport. By 2008 there would be world-class teams in all these sports from around the world. They didn't do it then, so make them do it now. Or, if they are that opposed to Canadian values, tell them to take their rotten little games elsewhere. (I really do hope the IOC decides to never, ever consider Canada for a games site again)

    Mostly its the smug comments from Pound Dick that get my blood boiling. Hand him over to the Canadian Forces and lock him up in Afghanistan with the Talibaners. He is always anti-Canadian.
  26. Chris H from Canada writes: I am not so knowledgeable on this story so can someone help me out:

    Is there men's ski jumping in the Olympics? If so, why has there been no women's ski jumping to date? How have the women failed to qualify their sport?

    I haven't read the previous stories on this so am undoubtedly missing some background.
  27. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Martyn, there would be essentially the same number of medals, Instead of just gold, silver & bronze for men ski jumpers, there would also be gold, silver & bronze for women ski jumpers. Did the medals for men runners & hurdlers get devalued somehow when they started awarding them to women's teams too? No. Awarding medals to parallel competitions by women's teams would have no effect on the value of the medals awarded to the men's teams.

    And unlike national currencies from central banks, olympic medals have (a) their metalic value determined by international markets, (b) their symbolic value as percieved by the winner, and (c) their symbolic value as percieved by each spectator. To me a gold in luge is valueless, to the next guy it means lots. Now, when they add Mixed-Doubles Luge as an event, sign me up!
  28. Stan L from Canada writes: Chris H....Good question, the reason there is no equivalent women' ski jumping is really quite simple.....it's becuase up until only recently did women want to compete/showed any interest in the sport. Ski jumping has been an event since 1924 and there were originally two events, the nominal hill individual and the team event...in 1964 they added the individual large hill event. So, to date they just haven't met the criteria for inclusion....to be fair, they are close and by 2014, they will be there...but forcing the matter in 2010 is unfair to ask and wrapping as a gender thing is wrong. It's really all about timing in 1924, we had a different society back then, women were not by any stretch given the same opportunitites and that's why some of these old time sports, particularily the inaccessible-to-the-public ones like this still don't have the women's membership to a great degree...Contrast that with snowboarding which was added in 1998 for both men and women....becuae it was a new sport, we have different ideas about competition and that's why both genders were included...because both genders qualified.

    I would agree, that the comments made by Canadian officals and Dick Pound (who by the way was a Canadian Olympian himself) are really just good advice.
  29. Martyn Whitt from Canada writes: Yes the value comes, or the worth in having/winning a medal comes from somebody excelling and rising above the competition to win the medal, if there's little or no competition, there's no value. Its like winning the 'participation' ribbon or medal in grade 1 activity day. If the Olympics had every sport, pastime and activity signed up as a full olympic sport, the medal itself would lose its perceived worth to the average person. I fully agree that the olympics are a commericalized circus, and would be happy to have every last dollar ever put into them by Canadian goverment's and corporate doners, go towards grass routes leagues and facilities that could be used by the average canadian particulary children. However in regards to this article, this issue, the Olympics has to have standards as to what sport is included and on this one they're protecting their brand and their organization, one couldn't reasonably expect them to do any different. In this case I wasn't talking about monetary value of any metal in the medal, rather the emotional value it has.
  30. L Harder from Canada writes: On one hand the criteria is clear for olympic inclusion. The criteria has not been met but seems reasonable attainable. The women in the sport shouldn't try to short circuit the process but need to build it with the help of national organizations.

    On the other hand the olympic commitee needs to assess the sport on facts alone. A renegade group that tries to manipulate the situation should have no bearing on a sports inclusion or not.
  31. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Mr. Rogge, tear down this wall!
  32. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair....what bother you most about this....becuase your opnions seem to vary....You seem to be saying depite the evidence, a fair hearing in 2006, and all the rules and criteria, the mere fact that the women have put in a claim of gender biased/human rights discrimination makes it correct by virtue of the fact that they are women and MUST be being discriminated against....OR is it that you think that the Olympics is not an organization that money should be going in to and that Canada would do better off to not encourage professional participation in sports as an ambition and spend the funds on grass roots recreational programs designed for better living.better health?

    Becuase the over-the-top statements like 'tear down this wall'.....is a prime example of the baseless empty headed rhetoric we see with such issues rather than measured, considered fact.
  33. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: It is a good 30 years since the olympics should have instituted women's competition for EVERY sport. If you field it, they will come. Olympic officials should have just done it. NOT having women's events in EVERY sport in the 21st Century olympics is clearly de facto descrimination. My tax $ should not go into anything that has to do with this joke.

    And yes, I do think that in all ways the olympics is a corrupt joke. The least they can do is make it slightly less of a joke by opening up all events across the board to women's teams.
  34. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Every sport open to men should be open to women's teams.

    Every sport open to women should be open to men's teams.

    Its just that simple. No discussions, studies, forums. JUST DO IT

    Anything else is a bunch of fragile male egos hiding in boardrooms.
  35. Rocky Zhao from Canada writes: It is painful to be a G&M reader this week - this is at least the third (maybe fourth) day that this 'human rights' story has graced the front page, today including a 1/2 page photo. Obviously, for reasons that escape me, G&M editor Ed Greenspon has made this his cause celebre. Tuesday had an editorial advocating on behalf of the privileged Calgary teenagers. But, let's put this into perspective. Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Olympics in July 2003. Obviously, a small group of individuals in Calgary saw an opportunity to put together a women's program using the ski jumping facilities from the '88 Olympics to train, with the hope of having the sport included at Vancouver, and being in a strong position to take away medals. So, the call went out and a group of Moms with eleven/twelve year old girls enlisted them in the new program. Today's team consists of four females, from Calgary, all 15/16. The absence of female participants older than 16 suggests a female ski jumping program of any significance did not exist prior to that time, despite the fact that the Calgary facilities are now 20 years old. They applied to have the sort included in Vancouver, it was denied based on legitimate criteria, and so the Moms have turned to using very dubious strategies to get their kids on the podium, the G&M being complicit in this 'human rights' fraud. The only columnist that I have found who is willing to write anything reasonable about this is Rosie DiMano of Toronto Star (Female ski jumpers not ready for big jump) in today's paper. Since a female columnist has finally spoken out against the tactics being used here, perhaps the politically correct male columnists and reporters will now feel empowered to do the same thing. When was the last time you saw a real human rights case carried four days straight on the front page of the G&M?
  36. Blair Langmuir from W'loo, Canada writes: Q: Is ringette an easy sport to play?

    A: No, or they would have called it Hockey
  37. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair....so in your estimation the Olympics should include all people for any sport they want to be in regardless of whether or not they are qualified, have the equipement, know-how, talent? Again, such a circular and juvenile arguement and SUCH and insult to all the athletes out there who strive for excellence and work so hard to qualify and compete ....there are rules for a reason, the IOC have em...most follow them and respect them....BUT some have mommies who can't accept the fact that the rules apply to them and find ways to circumvent the rules that everyone else on the planet men and women alike seem to be able to respect and follow.....you still haven't answered me....how did snowboarding get added in 1998 for men and women together IF the IOC is such a discriminatory body? or how did Women's hockey make it in 1998? Luge in 1964? (again for both men and women at the same time?)
  38. melissa wiebe from Abbotsford, BC, writes: I fail to see where this is a human rights case in the first place. Secondly, if they would wait a few more years for it to be instituted as a full medal sport, they probably wouldn't be denied. And finally, there are less than a hundred women who are actually involved in this sport; give it time to grow and then allow it to become a medal sport in the Olympics. Yes, your daughter may do well at the sport, but do realize that she is only 16 and that maybe in a few years she may want to do something else. And ma'am, if you do force the issue, you will only make sure that the IOC won't include it in the winter olympics for a number of years. Shut up and bide your time.
  39. harry carnie from Canada writes: Nothing like threats and blackmail to make your point(by IOC)

    This has made my wife and I decide We are NOT going(to the Olympics) anything worthwhile can be seen, with no hassle on T.V.

    Remember the Montreal 1976 Olympics? Quebec just finished paying for that in 2007.
    The 2010 Olympics will have lasting 'memories' FOR ALL OF US.
    Whether we attend or not.
  40. Blair Langmuir from Fairness, Canada writes: Stan L, I am not in any way saying that just any joe or josephine should be able to compete. Follow me here, its not rocket science:

    If there is, say, a Men's Ski-jumping event, then there should be a Women's Ski-jumping event. Open to teams of women from competing countries. These national teams made up of ... oh, how about, maybe ... the best women ski-jumpers that each country has?

    How does a Canadian Men's team get created? Doesn't Canada just hold competitions and pick the best, the winners, of all those trying out? So, ... how about we could do the same for women?? Let those that want to compete try out and then we select the best, and call them our Women's Ski-jumping team. All I am saying is the IOC should accept these teams and let them compete.

    Where does this involve lowering standards?? If Canada's best women jumpers of 2010 compete against America's best women jumpers of 2010, and against Russia's best women jumpers of 2010, and Sweden's best women jumpers of 2010, .... and so on, that would be an international competition of the best each counrty offers. It just needs the IOC to say 'Let there be more events open to both sexes' and it doesn't take that long for any one country to find the best dozen or so jumpers they have.

    Why are all the male grumps here getting their shorts in a knot about having more events for women's teams? Hold the events. Competition will bring forth the best. Or is there just something iccky about women you GUYS don't like at your precious games?

    So in the meanwhile, as the grumpy guys come up with vacuous excuses for why they keep the girls out, I agree 100% with harry carnie. And I will campaign all I can to spoil this most un-Canadian event, and try to ensure there is never another olympic boondoggle held on Canadian soil.
  41. Stan L from Canada writes: Blair....do some reading about how people qualify to enter sports in the Olympics and then come talk....until then you are simply wrong. I NEVER ONCE QUESTIONNED THERE ABILITY NOR IS THIS ABOUT ABILITY. THERE is no international competition in women's ski jumping....get it!!! IF there were it would be a sport already...get it!! Here's a real life example of what happens when you fast track a sport.....Women's Hockey was fastracked into existence in 1998 (and don't get me wrong I love the Canadian gals in the sport and am proud of their medals).....but now, there are still only a handful of countries that are able to compete and people are crying foul as it seems that becuase the sport was not properly internationally developed, there are too many countries that can't compete or don't have the resources to do so....it means that in the overall scheme of things, Canada (or the US) gets a medal where no REAL competition exists.....some are now questioning whether or not to pull Women's hockey becuase of how unbalanced it is in favour of the North Americans.....SO now extend that to this ski jumping, you are all of a sudden with only two years to go....going to tell the planet that this new sport is available? Fair? hardly fair at all, it's not about lowering standards....it's about meeting a criteria....you know the criteria that you so steadfastly refuse to look up? Here's one of the criteria....there needs to have been two international competitions set up and executed....the first one in this sport will be in 2009..... Just becuase they have a claim....doesn't make them right, just because they are girls, doesn't make them discriminated against....and just becuase you think you know How YOU would like the Olympics run, doens't mean that's the way it's done in the grown up world
  42. Robert von from Calgary, writes: The IOC is not with the times and if they want to be bitter about this that is fine indeed. All Canada needs to do is state that either the men and women will be using the jumps we spent our taxpayers money on or there will be no jumping at all.
  43. J Norman from Canada writes: VANOC should schedule a competition anyways. The organizers have already said that there is time to accommodate a women's event so why not have it, even it it is an unofficial addition?
  44. Stan L from Canada writes: J. Norman....I don't think anyone on the IOC or the VANOC has a problem with this being a demonstration sport in the meantime until they get their requirements met (Personally, if they were going to petition for anything that is something I think most could support)......the problem is that these ladies want to be in the competition competitively and will not accept anything less.....as they have made clear
  45. Rocky Zhao from Canada writes: )......the problem is that these ladies want to be in the competition competitively and will not accept anything less.....as they have made clear

    Of course their mothers won't. By 2014 Olympics (if it gets in) there will be a whole new breed of competitors to make the team - not just from Calgary, but those that will have training access to the new Whistler ski jump facilities.

    This is their best chance to medal - when there is no competition. Pure self interest.
  46. Ed Ked from Vancouver, Canada writes: Great, so now the near-mafia types at the administrative level of the Olympics organization show their true colours by issuing threats.
    People have this naive vision of the Olympics as this great above-it-all sanctum of sports idealism, which is pretty funny considering the corrupt old crooks in charge. The housecleaning of a couple of years ago was just a P.R. exercise.
    Also, why is a website for a Canadian* newspaper trying to correct what I write to *American spelling?
  47. chris boyd from writes: Facts will help:
    Stan L says: 'THERE is no international competition in women's ski jumping....get it!!! IF there were it would be a sport already...get it!! '
    Actually, there have been international competitions for years in women's ski jumping - the FIS - International Ski Federation - would not call them World Cups so they have been called Continental Cups.
    If you go to the FIS website (http://www.fis-ski.com) you will see results of international competitions for years back with jumpers from Germany, USA, France, Norway, Slovenia, Austrai, Poland, Russia, Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland.
    Our Canadian women jumpers spend much of the year travelling to international competitions on the European continent, where ski jumps are everywhere, to Japan and to the USA.
  48. by jove from Canada writes: harry carnie from Canada writes: Nothing like threats and blackmail to make your point(by IOC)

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Both Dick Pound and Michael Chambers are idiots.
  49. P McLean from Canada writes: Some people just amaze me. There is a process in place, one which several women's sports have followed and found their way into the Olympics, but since that didn't work, these mothers sue and tell them IOC screw you, yet the IOC is supposed to keep quiet? This is a perfect storm of spoiled brats, coupled with grandstanding politicians, with Olympics in a country full of bleeding hearts who will support your story no matter how ridiculous it is. Anyone who wants to complain about the IOC's behavior in this probably doesn't understand the concept of getting a dose of your own medicine.
  50. Kevin Desmoulin from TO, Canada writes: In the spirit of the Olympics You better watch your step, Is this guy getting pointers from Harper in how to run things?
    Let the women compete,
    I found women sports a lot interesting then men's except hockey, and it is not me being a guy. Ski jumping, that a sport for sure
  51. chris boyd from writes: The Interntional Ski Federation (FIS) website, (http://www.fis-ski.com) lists 114 international women's ski jumping competitions scheduled in the last 5 years.

    To the list of participating countries I named in my last post I should add Japan - which has some very competitive women - and the Nederlands - which seems too flat for ski jumping but has recently started to send competitors!

    Check out the results of a typical competition in Austria last August that had 50 competitors ranging in age from 14 to 29: http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/604/610.html?sector=JP&raceid=2442
  52. Upper Canadian born and raised in Western Canada from Canada writes: Ahh.. it's so refreshing to see something so constant as POLITICS being driven into the OLYMPICS yet AGAIN, which totally disrupts the meaning and purpose of the OLYMPICS.
  53. harry carnie from Canada writes: Well considering the bribing ,and the scandals in the past(Olympics)..that broke and bent rules .................................................
    The RULES ARE CARVED IN STONE NOW? They cannot be changed for a fair and practical reason?

    There are 14 countries that have womens ski jump programs. Some events at past Olympics had only one entry...Please explain this you anti female
    'experts'
  54. A Wong from Montreal, Canada writes: I think the Olympic officials need to 'tread lightly,' lest this turn into a huge PR disaster for them. The girls are coming off as spunky, while the IOC is coming off as antiquarian.
  55. Marian Olson from Canada writes: The girls may be 'spunky' and their mothers very noisy, but that is still no reason to bring in the human rights industry because the IOC won't let you have your way. Dick Pound is absolutely right, but if your best chance of getting into the 'show' is intense lobbying for a sport that has few participants in the winter sports world, by all means get your knickers in a twist and scream gender inequality. What is shameful is that so many, from the feds on down, have jumped on this sill PC bandwagon.

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