8/14/2019 International Olympic Committee statement concerning women ski jumpers' exclusion from the Olympic Games

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IOC Communications Department, Background on CourtCase Involving 2010 Olympic Programme courtesy ofSandrine Tonge, IOC Media Relations:

Because so many sports desire inclusion in the Olympic Games,

decisions regarding the Olympic Programme are very carefullyconsidered. Programme decisions are made well in advance ofthe Games to ensure a fair and orderly process that results inwell-organised competition. Proposals for inclusion are made byInternational Federations and are thoroughly analyzed by theOlympic Programme Commission. After the analysis, whichincludes on-site observations at competition events, as well asresearch on participation levels and other relevant factors, theProgramme Commission provides its recommendations to the IOCExecutive Board. The Executive Board makes the final decision on

which events and disciplines will be included in the OlympicProgramme.

When the 2010 programme was determined in 2006, womens ski jumping was one of seven events considered for inclusion. Theothers were ski cross, biathlon mixed relay, bobsleigh andskeleton team competition, luge team competition, alpine skiingnation team event and curling mixed doubles. After carefullyreviewing all seven events, the Olympic Programme Commissionrecommended only one ski cross for inclusion in the 2010

Games. At a meeting in Kuwait City on 28 November 2006, theIOC Executive Board considered the merits of the seven eventsand agreed with the Olympic Programme Commissions

recommendation.

The recommendation and the final decision were based ontechnical merits and had nothing to do with the gender of theparticipants in any of the sports or events. The Executive Boardexplained its decision at the time in a press release that follows

as an appendix.

In the past, some events have been added to the programmewithout meeting the criteria that are currently in place. Also inthe past, some events have been added to the programme wellafter the initial programme decision. However, in recent years theprocedures for determining the programme have become morerigorous and more closely linked to relevant criteria. Athletes,

8/14/2019 International Olympic Committee statement concerning women ski jumpers' exclusion from the Olympic Games

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