Olympics | Women jumpers sue to compete

VANCOUVER, B.C. — A group of women ski jumpers suing the Vancouver organizing committee for the 2010 Winter Olympics said Thursday if they are denied the right to participate in the Games, so too should the men competing.

The women say not being included in the Games is a violation of the women's rights under Canada's bill of rights.

The lawsuit, filed in B.C. Supreme Court, says the failure to include a women's ski jumping event in the Games is discriminatory and based on stereotypes of the types of activities suitable for women.

"Little girls I'm working with don't understand why they can't grow up to be in the Olympics," said Karla Keck, the retired American ski jumper who said she left the sport because she ran out of competitive opportunities. "I don't believe they should be asking this question in this day and age."

The IOC voted in 2006 not to allow women's ski jumping into the 2010 Games, saying the sport has not developed enough and that it didn't meet basic criteria for inclusion.

To be considered for inclusion in an Olympic Games, a sport must have held at least two world championships. The first women's ski jumping world championships will be held next year in Liberec, Czech Republic.

But the lawsuit argues the Vancouver organizing committee had previously told the IOC it didn't want to include women's ski jumping because of budget constraints.

Hamm hurt, but leads

HOUSTON — Paul Hamm's stay at the top of the U.S. gymnastics championships might be a short one.

Hamm said he might not compete Saturday after injuring his first hand in the last few seconds of his parallel bars routine, his final event Thursday.

Even with the injury, he had a commanding lead. His score of 93.450 was more than three points ahead of Joseph Hagerty, who had 89.750.

The Olympic trials are June 19-22 in Philadelphia, and Hamm is considered the only lock to make the team — even if he's not at trials.

Three-time Olympian Blaine Wilson, 33, ended his comeback attempt by withdrawing after two events.

Notes

• Jamie Beyerle and Sandra Fong finished 1-2 in three-position rifle at the U.S. shooting trials in Fort Benning, Ga., to earn spots in the Beijing Games.

• Athletes at the Beijing Olympics will be subject to no-advance notice doping controls at any time and any place, the IOC said. The committee issued its anti-doping rules for the Games, which will include 4,500 tests, up from 3,600 in Athens four years ago.