Antalya, Turkey – Beginning in the 2011-12 winter season, the women’s ski jumping worldwide circuit will be elevated to World Cup status.nThe decision was reached last week at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council Spring Meetings, held in Antalya. FIS officials cited the success of the women’s ski jumping Continental Cup tour held since 2004-05.

The decision is largely seen as a boost to efforts to include women’s ski jumping in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Sochi, Russia. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials cited reasons ranging from the medical effects of ski jumping on women’s bodies, to lack of worldwide appeal of the sport in explaining its decision to not include women’s ski jumping in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

A group of elite women jumpers subsequently filed a discrimination suit in Canadian courts, arguing that the sport is the only one not available for both men and women at the Games. While A Supreme Court justice found evidence of discrimination, she indicated that the court lacked jurisdiction over the IOC, an international body.

Also at its meeting in Turkey, the FIS voted to introduce a women’s team ski jumping event for at the Junior World Ski Championships beginning in competition season 2010-2011.

“This is a major step forward for women’s ski jumping,” said Women’s Ski Jumping USA President Deedee Corradini. “One of the reasons the IOC has used in the past to justify not allowing the women into Vancouver 2010 is that the women didn’t have a World Cup to date. Having a World Cup in 2011-2012 and our second World Championship in 2011 opens the door wide for our inclusion in Sochi 2014.”

Women ski jumpers will compete again on the 90-meter normal hill in the 2011 Worlds in Oslo, Norway, though FIS has yet to add a team event to the line-up. FIS did, however, add a team event to the Junior World Ski Championships in 2010-2011.

While the World Cup news is positive, Corradini said it’s been a huge challenge for the U.S. Women’s Ski Jumping Team to gain financial traction. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association dropped all funding to the team in May 2009 because it wasn’t included in the Olympic program. Women’s Ski Jumping USA, the team’s foundation, has since taken over financial and administrative support of the team, which is ranked second in the world.

“We’re literally broke,” Corradini said. “But we’re working diligently this summer to raise money to help these talented and skilled athletes travel, compete and prepare for Worlds in 2011 and hopefully the 2014 Games.”