Dr. Hedy Fry: HEDZ SEZ BLOG: Facts vs Spin
HEDZ SEZ BLOG: Facts vs Spin
So the Supreme Court of BC shuts down the appeal of women Ski Jumpers! Sad!
Gender discrimination is prohibited under our Charter but the IOC is outside of our Charter's jurisdiction.
True.
Yet, with a bit of political will and some sharp elbows the whole affair could have unfolded differently.
This is the only Olympic Sport that continues to discriminate by gender. The arguments made by the IOC are not feasible.
They say the women do not meet Olympic Standards and that there are not enough participating countries to qualify for the event. Yet,the women are good enough for World Ski Events and the number of would- be participating countries are more than the "Skeleton" luge, which became eligible at Salt Lake City Olympics for the first time.
How did Salt Lake City succeed in pushing the IOC where it used to resist in the past?
A gutsy politician, the Mayor of Salt lake City, decided that under her watch and in her territory, the IOC would play ball according to her rules. She dug her heels in and pushed. The IOC buckled.
It could have been thus in Canada. In March 2006, I learned that the IOC were unwilling to allow the Women's ski jumping team to qualify as an event.
I thought, silly me, that since the Federal government, using public funds, was bankrolling a huge part of the 2010 Olympics, especially the infrastructure, that we would have some muscle ( he who pays the piper and all that..). The Mayor of Salt Lake city had set a sterling example.
So I spoke to the then Fed Minister of Sport pointing out the fallacy of the IOC's argument, the Charter etc..was given the gentle brush off and forwarded to the 2010 Minister, a BC heavy weight. He didn't even bother to meet with me, but sent his officials, who promised to " do something".
By the spring of 2007, a new female. Sport and 2010 Minister took over in Ottawa. Having openly supported the Ski team who were now joined in the fight by the Mayor of Salt Lake City. (Imagine! A US politician supporting Canada's Charter); I though we were in luck..so I wrote to the new Minister asking her to intervene with the IOC, before it made it's decision in fall 2007. Silence!
Four months later I was graced with an offer to meet. Minister skipped at the last minute and again, I met only the officials who have no authority unless the Min so instructed.
Fall 2007, IOC said no. The die was cast. So the women athletes went to Court. The rest is legal history and massive costs to a group who could ill afford.
The spunky mayor stayed the course.
I had to lay off while the case was in court, and the female federal minister began to look interested, because of the threat of an embarrassing legal challenge. Too late. The IOC had spoken and face saving was impossible.
So Canada has its 2010, everyone tut-tuts and gender discrimination prevails.
All for lack of political will! Pity! Another sad case of disinterest by a federal government that has made a habit of refusing to stand up for justice for all and for Charter rights.
Gender discrimination is prohibited under our Charter but the IOC is outside of our Charter's jurisdiction.
True.
Yet, with a bit of political will and some sharp elbows the whole affair could have unfolded differently.
This is the only Olympic Sport that continues to discriminate by gender. The arguments made by the IOC are not feasible.
They say the women do not meet Olympic Standards and that there are not enough participating countries to qualify for the event. Yet,the women are good enough for World Ski Events and the number of would- be participating countries are more than the "Skeleton" luge, which became eligible at Salt Lake City Olympics for the first time.
How did Salt Lake City succeed in pushing the IOC where it used to resist in the past?
A gutsy politician, the Mayor of Salt lake City, decided that under her watch and in her territory, the IOC would play ball according to her rules. She dug her heels in and pushed. The IOC buckled.
It could have been thus in Canada. In March 2006, I learned that the IOC were unwilling to allow the Women's ski jumping team to qualify as an event.
I thought, silly me, that since the Federal government, using public funds, was bankrolling a huge part of the 2010 Olympics, especially the infrastructure, that we would have some muscle ( he who pays the piper and all that..). The Mayor of Salt Lake city had set a sterling example.
So I spoke to the then Fed Minister of Sport pointing out the fallacy of the IOC's argument, the Charter etc..was given the gentle brush off and forwarded to the 2010 Minister, a BC heavy weight. He didn't even bother to meet with me, but sent his officials, who promised to " do something".
By the spring of 2007, a new female. Sport and 2010 Minister took over in Ottawa. Having openly supported the Ski team who were now joined in the fight by the Mayor of Salt Lake City. (Imagine! A US politician supporting Canada's Charter); I though we were in luck..so I wrote to the new Minister asking her to intervene with the IOC, before it made it's decision in fall 2007. Silence!
Four months later I was graced with an offer to meet. Minister skipped at the last minute and again, I met only the officials who have no authority unless the Min so instructed.
Fall 2007, IOC said no. The die was cast. So the women athletes went to Court. The rest is legal history and massive costs to a group who could ill afford.
The spunky mayor stayed the course.
I had to lay off while the case was in court, and the female federal minister began to look interested, because of the threat of an embarrassing legal challenge. Too late. The IOC had spoken and face saving was impossible.
So Canada has its 2010, everyone tut-tuts and gender discrimination prevails.
All for lack of political will! Pity! Another sad case of disinterest by a federal government that has made a habit of refusing to stand up for justice for all and for Charter rights.