08-R120

2008 -- S 2789

Enacted 03/26/08

 

 

S E N A T E  R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO RETHINK ITS 2006 DECISION NOT TO INCLUDE WOMEN SKI JUMPING IN THE 2010 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES IN VANCOUVER

 

 

     

     

     Introduced By: Senators C Levesque, Goodwin, Gallo, Paiva-Weed, and Lanzi

     Date Introduced: March 05, 2008

 

 

     WHEREAS, The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) role is to “encourage and

support the promotion of women in sports at all levels and in all structures, with a view to

implementing the principle of equality of men and women”; and

     WHEREAS, Across the country women’s participation in sports has been a major

concern in the last twenty years in our schools and at our Universities, with major strides made in

the area. In 1991, the IOC required all new Olympic sports include women's events; and

     WHEREAS, Unfortunately that requirement did not extend to already existing events,

rendering gender equality in our Olympic sports and athletic competition elusive, as evidenced by

the IOC’s 2006 decision not to allow women ski jumpers to participate in the next Olympic

Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, women participate in five out of seven Olympic winter sports

with Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined (cross-country skiing and ski jumping) being the

exceptions; and

     WHEREAS, America’s women athletes are more than talented, they are among the best.

They have made incredible sacrifices in commitment, time and money to become the best, and

they have earned the right to compete as athletes on the world stage, and to have the same thrill of

competition and recognition for their accomplishments; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby urges the International Olympic Committee to include women’s ski jumping in the 2010

Olympic Winter Games; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the International Olympic Committee.

     

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LC02375

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