Women ski jumpers sue to compete at 2010 Winter Olympics

Women ski jumpers from six countries including the U.S. and Germany are suing Vancouver organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics to have their sport included in the games.

The suit against the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games alleges that allowing only male ski-jumping events discriminates against women.

Exclusion "is based directly or indirectly on stereotypes about the types of activities that are suitable for women," according to the claim, filed yesterday at the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The women from Canada, the U.S., Germany, Austria, Solvenia and Norway asked the court to ban the men's competition from the games unless there is one for women.

Vancouver's committee plans to make a statement on the lawsuit today, a spokesman for the organization said.

Jack Poole, chairman of the Vancouver organizing committee, said yesterday that any decision not to include women ski jumpers is the responsibility of the International Olympic Committee.

"We've been advised more than once by the IOC that our job is to prepare the field of play," Poole told the Globe and Mail newspaper. "They will decide the sports that are involved."