The quest by a group of women's ski jumpers to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics appears to have ended in disappointment for the jumpers and their supporters. But a spokesperson for the women vowed not to give up the fight until the sport is part of the Olympic program.

The Supreme Court of Canada on Tuesday (Dec. 22) announced that it would not hear an appeal by 14 Canadian and American ski jumpers of two earlier B.C. court rulings denying women the chance compete in the Callaghan Valley in February.

The women have repeatedly asked the courts to force the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) to include women's ski jumping on the argument that not doing so would be discriminatory under Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A B.C. Supreme Court ruling in July concluded that allowing men to compete and not women was discriminatory, but that the court did not have jurisdiction to force the International Olympic Committee (IOC) — which it said has sole authority over the Olympic competition program — to include it. The B.C. Court of Appeal upheld that ruling.

The women had sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, but on Tuesday the court said it would not hear that appeal.

“We are very disappointed the Supreme Court of Canada does not view this as matter of national importance and will not have the opportunity to hear our arguments,” Vancouver lawyer Ross Clark, Q.C., said in statement. “This case was not just about women ski jumpers. The textbook gender discrimination found by the lower court judge should have been examined by the highest court in the land in light of its significance to our Charter case.”

Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping-USA and long-time advocate for the women's case, said she was sad that the women are being denied the Supreme Court opportunity, but vowed not to give up.

“We won't stop working at this cause until women are ski jumping in the Olympics,” she said. “Although we are hugely disappointed by the Supreme Court's refusal to hear us this time, we won't give up. This is about human rights and discrimination. It's a wrong that must be righted.

“These women are ready, they're highly skilled athletes and given the chance, would have provided Olympic spectators with a thrilling and competitive performance in February at Whistler. No qualified athlete should be denied the right to participate in the Olympics because of gender.”

Please see this week’s Question for more details and comments on the decision.