July 10, 2009 (Vancouver, BC) – Disappointment was in the air in a Vancouver courtroom earlier today following the announcement of a judgment in favor of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee in the landmark lawsuit of Sagen vs. VANOC. While, the Norwegian jumper Anette Sagen was named, the legal action was filed on behalf of 15 plaintiffs from the United States, Canada and Europe.

This spring, the group of women ski jumpers filed legal action in an effort to gain inclusion into the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Today’s ruling effectively ends this portion of their quest, but not without the Honorable Justice Lauri Fenlon tendering a sympathetic verdict in British Columbia’s Supreme Court.

In court documents released this afternoon, Justice Fenlon wrote in her decision “In my view the exclusion of women’s ski jumping from the 2010 Olympic games is discriminatory…” and “that the plaintiffs will be denied this opportunity for no reason other than their sex.”

Judge Fenlon added, “The plaintiffs claim was not against the IOC for refusing to add women’s ski jumping to the Olympics, it was against VANOC.” She stated further that the, “2010 Games are an IOC creation with IOC authority and control”. VANOC claimed it is not controlled in its operations by special powers from the Canadian government, receiving its directives entirely from the IOC.” In her ruling Justice Fenlon stated, “The IOC made a decision that discriminates against the plaintiffs… only the IOC can alleviate that discrimination.”

In hearing the news, Women’s Ski Jumping-USA President Deedee Corradini said she was terribly disappointed. “No one wanted to go to court over this, but we had no choice, we respect the court and it’s ruling, but we are crushed. We won’t give up until women’s ski jumping is in the Olympics, but it’s unfortunate this legal effort failed and they won’t be in 2010.” During our interview with Corradini, a former mayor of Salt Lake City, she told us, “This is a moral victory in a way, showing we can stand up to the IOC.”

Jessica Jerome, another plaintiff and member of the American women’s ski jumping team, said the news has left her “extremely disheartened.”

Earlier in 2008 IOC President Jacques Rogge said that there are not enough women competing in the sport, and added that a sport must have at least two world championships prior to being included for entrance into the Olympic Games program for medal status. The first world championships that saw women’s ski jumping receive full medal status was last February’s FIS World Nordic Ski Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic. At that event, American Lindsey Van won the first-ever women’s ski jumping gold medal.

Following the ruling Van said “I’m disappointed, but I respect the court’s decision. I do feel we did explore all avenues to try and make this a reality, so I am happy that I decided to pursue this. I hope that our sport can continue to move forward despite this loss.”

The United States Ski and Snowboard Vice President-Athletics, Luke Bodensteiner issued a statement from the team’s Park City, UT headquarters. “The women’s ski jumping athletes have continued to show great strength athletically as evidenced by the highly competitive World Championship debut won by American Lindsey Van. We are disappointed for the athletes who pursued this case, but continue our focus on the athletic strength of the sport internationally and to seek inclusion by the IOC at the 2014 Olympics.”

For the record, USSA was among a number of nations who championed overwhelming support to elevate women’s ski jumping to World Championship status at the FIS Congress back in 2006, and promoted the sport for inclusion in the Olympics. Later that year the IOC chose not to select the sport for 2010, but expressed encouragement for its potential participation in 2014. One source close to the movement said that it is possible the IOC will consider new additions to the 2014 schedule for Sochi, Russia at meetings later in 2010.