greenman
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ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) -- Olympic officials say they need more time to review women's ski jumping and other events before deciding whether to include them in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.The International Olympic Committee looks "favorably" on the proposed events but won't make a final decision until after their world championships in 2011, two senior officials told The Associated Press on Monday.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the official announcement hadn't been made yet.The IOC twice turned down women's ski jumping for inclusion at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The IOC said then that the sport lacked enough elite competitors.Women ski jumpers took their case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, but failed to overturn the IOC decision. Women jumpers were hoping for outright IOC approval for Sochi on Monday, but the committee decided it needs to assess the quality of competition at the upcoming world championships in Norway.Also viewed positively but facing further review next year are: slopestyle events in snowboard and freestyle skiing, ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon, and team events in figure skating and luge.The executive board gave IOC President Jacques Rogge the personal mandate to make the final decision.Out of eight proposed new events, one was rejected -- a team event in Alpine skiing. The event, which has been held at the world championships since 2005, features racers going head-to-head in a parallel giant slalom.Rogge has said he supports the addition of women's jumping if there is a continued growth in the number of top competitors.The inaugural women's ski jumping world championship took place last year in Liberec, Czech Republic, and was won by Lindsey Van of the United States. Next year's championship will be held in Oslo on Feb. 25.The International Ski Federation plans to start a women's ski jumping World Cup circuit starting with the 2011-12 season. Women have competed on the Continental Cup circuit since 2005.The addition of slopestyle and ski halfpipe events would be the latest push by the IOC to bring in events that appeal to youth. Skicross made its debut in Vancouver.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. The event is on the schedule for the 2011 Freestyle Ski World Championships in Park City, Utah.In skating, a World Team Trophy was held for the first time last year in Tokyo. The event featured eight skaters per team -- two male single skaters, two female single skaters, one pairs couple and one ice dancing couple.
