A supporter of the Canadian women’s ski jumping team has filed a complaint with Canada’s Human Rights Commission challenging the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to include the sport in the 2010 Vancouver Games.
“This battle is about women’s rights and fairness,” said the woman filing the complaint, Jan Willis of Calgary. “The complaint is focused on gender discrimination resulting from the use of federal funds for construction of a ski jump facility that women will not be allowed to compete upon during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.”
Her complaint argues the Department of Canadian Heritage, which allocates federal funding for the Olympic ski jumping venue, is obligated to challenge the IOC decision that excludes women.
“We are seeking a reversal of the IOC decision,” said Nina Reid, a lawyer and fellow ski jumping advocate. “We believe the federal government must do what is right and press the IOC to include women’s ski jumping events in Vancouver. The complaint to the Human Rights Commission will focus the federal government’s attention on this issue.”
