Women's Ski Jumping

Some women are suing in Canada for the right to ski jump in the Olympics.

Legal arguments over whether Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms applies to the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee, known as VANOC, are at the crux of a B.C. Supreme Court case that wrapped up Friday. Fifteen former and current women ski jumpers are suing VANOC for their sport's exclusion from the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Some somewhat random thoughts:

It seems western society has pretty much reached the point where anyone can sue anyone or anything at any time for any reason. This puts way too much power in the hands of lawyers.

How many serious women ski jumpers are there? A few dozen? Making a sport with so few participants an Olympic sport just cheapens the whole games. There should have to be some critical mass of people involved in the sport before it gets Olympic status. In the case of Women's ski jumping, there has apparently been only one world championship to date. The sport too green. And yes, I would cut some of the events they already have. Hammer throw? Have you ever seen a hammer? Held one? Thrown one? Know anyone who has?

The article says "The women are seeking a court declaration that VANOC must either hold women's ski jumping in 2010 or no ski jumping events at all." Real nice. See if you can spoil it for the men.

What is and isn't a sport anyway? Ski jumping? How about darts?

Why do we need separate events for women and men? A woman gymnast with good jumping ability, timing, and lightness to sail on the air a bit may have an advantage.

Does every sport done by one gender have to be done by the other? We all know where that will lead...