Female ski jumpers seek speedy resolution in B.C. Court of Appeal.

VANCOUVER — Female ski jumpers, who are trying to force the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (Vanoc) to include a women's event at the 2010 Winter Games, will be at the B.C. Court of Appeal Friday asking that their case be expedited.

Last month, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon turned down their request. Even though Fenlon agreed with the jumpers that it is contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to have an event exclusively for men, she ruled that the decision was not up to Vanoc. Rather, Fenlon concluded, that was the sole jurisdiction of the International Olympic Committee and it is not bound by the Charter.

Fenlon's decision is being appealed by the jumpers, who will ask the appellate court to set a trial date in September or October so that if they win on appeal, there is still time to organize an Olympic event.