The Ski Channel Champions Women Ski Jumping in 2010

Back in 2006, I posted that the The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, concurrent with an International Ski Federation (FIS) decision adding women's ski jumping to the 2009 World Championships, named women to its U.S. Ski Jumping Team for the first time starting with the 2007 season.

At the time. I thought the women jumpers were on track to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. However, it now seems that people high on the International Olympic Committee don't want this to happen.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee has gone public with a ridiculous and easily refutable list of reasons why, in his, and the IOC's opinion women cannot enter a ski jump competition at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

In an effort to right this wrong, and to bring women's ski jumping to the viewing public, Steve Bellamy, Chairman and CEO of The Ski Channel has championed the women ski jumper's cause. The Ski Channel, an original ad supported cable television network delivered via VOD and set to launch in mid 2008, is partnering with Women's Ski Jumping USA to bring upcoming women ski jumping events to its TV network and web site.

"These are the most extreme female athletes in the world. We are going to use our media outlet to shine a very bright light on what they do," said Bellamy. "Additionally, we are going to lobby hard to get these girls into the Olympics as Ski Jumping is the only Olympic Winter Sport that does not allow women to compete. It is one of the most traditional Olympic sports and should be available to both genders."

Womens Ski Jumping USA is a non-profit organization which promotes women's ski jumping within the U.S and has been at the forefront of the fight to gain IOC inclusion in the 2010 Games. In partnering with The Ski Channel, the WSJ USA will deliver women's coverage of the sport including athlete blogs, new,s and schedules to The Ski Channel web site.

You can help to get the women ski jumpers to be allowed to compete at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games by signing the petition at Womens Ski Jumping USA Petition.