CSA, Ski Jumping Canada again criticize 2010 Olympic lawsuit

The recent announcement by Canadian ski jumper Zoya Lynch that she is joining a lawsuit against the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) that seeks to include women’s jumping in the 2010 sports program has drawn criticism from the Canadian Snowsports Association (CSA) and Ski Jumping Canada.
THE RECENT announcement by Canadian ski jumper Zoya Lynch that she is joining a lawsuit against the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) that seeks to include women’s jumping in the 2010 sports program has drawn criticism from the Canadian Snowsports Association (CSA) and Ski Jumping Canada.
    Dave Pym, the managing director of CSA, says the lawsuit “at best is a nuisance and at worst is a diversion that could impact on our preparations” for the 2010 Games.
    “Although we have always understood the frustration of the entire Canadian sports community and in particular those directly impacted by the decision of the IOC to deny the inclusion of ladies ski jumping in the program of 2010, we must again emphasize that any action directed at VANOC is inappropriate and in our opinion badly misguided," Pym says. “VANOC was tremendously supportive of the CSA attempts over the past few years to actively lobby the IOC for inclusion of ladies ski jumping, but VANOC is not the decision makers as to the inclusion of events. This lawsuit is being led by others outside of Canada who should know and in fact do know that VANOC has no authority to add events and that the decision was that of the
IOC and one can only conclude is an attempt to embarrass all of us as we move toward 2010.”
     The CSA’s membership includes Alpine Canada, Cross Country Canada, Canadian Snowboard Federation, Canadian Freestyle Ski, Telemark Canada, Speed Ski Canada, Canadian Association of Disabled Skiers, Nordic Combined and Ski jump Canada.