Olympische Winterspelen 2014 in Sochi

quote:

IOC positive about new Sochi 2014 ski events

Meeting in Acapulco, the IOC Executive Board (EB) decided that it is looking favorably at the inclusion of ladies' Ski Jumping, Freestyle Ski half-pipe, Freestyle Ski slopestyle, Snowboard slopestyle, along with Biathlon mixed team relay, Figure Skating team event and Luge team relay in the program of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

However, before taking a final decision, the IOC EB said it would like to consider the outcome of the respective World Championships during the winter season in 2011.

FIS President Gian Franco Kasper commented: "FIS is pleased to know that four of our event requests are seen favorably by the IOC Executive Board. At the same time, we are very disappointed that out of all proposed new events on the Olympic Winter Games program across all sports, the only one excluded from the positive list is the Alpine Nations' Team Event. It is difficult explain why the most established discipline that is best liked in terms of global TV audiences would not be considered further. This is why we are not going to give up and remain optimistic that all our proposals have good chances in passing the final cut in the spring."

The IOC Olympic Program Commission analyzed all the requests put forward by the International Federations based and submitted its findings to the EB. The key positive factors included whether the changes would increase universality, gender equity and youth appeal, and in general add value to the Games. Other considerations included the cost of infrastructure, and the impact on the overall quota and the number of events.

Final decisions on the events to be included on the Sochi 2014 program rest with IOC President Jacques Rogge and are planned to be taken in early spring 2011.

quote:

The IOC approved the inclusion of women's ski jumping and four other new events for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

The International Olympic Committee executive board also approved ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating on Wednesday.

Proposals for inclusion of slopestyle events in snowboard and freestyle skiing and a team Alpine skiing event were put on hold for further review, the IOC said.

The IOC twice rejected women's ski jumping for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, saying the sport lacked enough elite competitors.

Women jumpers took their case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, but failed to overturn the IOC decision.

The women seemingly sealed their case at the Nordic world championships in Oslo in early March, when competitors jumped in heavy fog and strong winds.

IOC board member Gerhard Heiberg of Norway said he was impressed by the level of competition and would recommend the event's inclusion to IOC President Jacques Rogge.

Ski jumping and Nordic combined, which features ski jumping and cross-country skiing, had been the only Winter Olympic events open only to men.

The IOC said in October that it "looked favourably" on all the proposed events, but postponed a ruling until after the various world championships this winter.

Officials said Wednesday more time was needed to study the technical aspects of the slopestyle and Alpine team events but they could still be added to the Sochi program.

In slopestyle, athletes do tricks while going down the mountain and through "features" — rails, big jumps and bumps.

American snowboard star Shaun White, who won halfpipe gold in Vancouver, has said he would like to add slopestyle to his schedule if it's approved for Sochi.

Ski slopestyle is similar to the snowboard version.

In ski halfpipe, skiers score points for performing tricks and jumps on the same course used for the snowboard halfpipe.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/(...)ef=rss#ixzz1IkbryqR5

quote:

Het Internationaal Olympisch Comité heeft maandag het onderdeel slopestyle voor snowboarders en skiërs aan het olympisch programma voor de Winterspelen in het Russische Sotchi toegevoegd.

Bij slopestyle moeten de deelnemers punten scoren met spectaculaire sprongen op een helling vol hindernissen. 'Het is een erg populaire en snel groeiende sport, met een veelbelovende toekomst', verklaarde IOC-voorzitter Jacques Rogge in het Zuid-Afrikaansze Durban, waar de 123e Algemene Vergadering van het Internationaal Olympisch Comité plaatsvindt.

Ook de parallelle slalom voor snowboarders werd maandag aan het programma toegevoegd. In april zette het IOC al voor vijf andere sporten het licht op groen. Zo werden schansspringen voor vrouwen, halfpipe skiën, kunstschaatsen voor teams, gemengde aflossing in de biatlon en de ploegenaflossing in het rodelen olympisch. De Spelen in Sotchi vinden plaats in 2014.