There are some pretty compelling reasons not to watch ski jumping at this year’s Winter Olympics that have nothing to do with its inconvenient afternoon time slot or lack of high-ranked American competitors. Ski jumping is the only sport that will not include a competition for female athletes in Vancouver, despite a Canadian court’s ruling that the omission blatantly discriminated against women. That same court also ruled, however, that it did not have jurisdiction over the International Olympic Committee’s decision, while the IOC maintained its exclusionary policy in the face of a lawsuit from 15 would-be female Olympic ski jumpers.
The IOC’s reasoning states that participation and competition are not great enough amongst the highest levels of female competitors and that the sport poses unique dangers to women, claims disputed by many female ski jumpers and their coaches. The IOC won the case, and while female ski jumping takes place during World Championship and other major national competitions, the only two women making a jump in Vancouver are Calgary residents who agreed to test the course in preparation for the event. The IOC will review its policy again before the 2014 games.
Another reason to tune out ski jumping this year is that Swiss sensation Simon Ammann no longer goes by his nickname, “Harry Potter,” nor does he resemble the world’s favorite teen wizard like he did in the 2002 Olympic games in Salt Lake City.
He has rediscovered some of his magic from those games—where he won two gold medals—winning the first ski jumping event and first gold of the 2010 Olympics. Ammann’s push toward a record tying fourth individual ski jump gold does provide some incentive to watch the event, but you’ll have to decide if the charmingly excitable Swiss and the sport’s exciting aerial nature are big enough draws. Competitions resume on February 19, with medal rounds held on the 20th and 22nd.
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I think it not fair to say don’t watch a sport where athletes give their best just because some officials made the decisions for them. I believe that we have to give the athletes the respect they deserve.
“Another reason to tune out ski jumping this year is that Swiss sensation Simon Ammann no longer goes by his nickname, “Harry Potter,” nor does he resemble the world’s favorite teen wizard like he did in the 2002 Olympic games in Salt Lake City.”
Are you serious? Learn how to watch sports for the SPORTS.
But they’re the Olympics. It’s supposed to be the best athletes in the world competing against one another. In a way, it takes away from the entire experience by not allowing the best athletes to compete.
Also, I think the Harry Potter bit was a joke.