Olympics-Ski cross to make debut at 2010 Winter Games

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 28 (Reuters) The International Olympic Committee today gave the green light for ski cross to make its debut at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

The IOC's Executive Board, in a bid to keep up with modern winter disciplines popular with young people and broadcasters, agreed to introduce ski cross during their meeting in Kuwait.

''Yes, ski cross is in,'' IOC Vice President Gunilla Lindberg told reporters immediately after the meeting.

Ski cross is a freestyle event similar to snowboard cross and part of the International Ski Federation's World Cup freestyle circuit.

All new events introduced at this year's Turin Games would also remain on the programme for Vancouver, the IOC said.

Vancouver Games organisers now only have to rubberstamp the decision given the popularity of ski cross in North America.

The IOC did turn down other disciplines though, namely women's ski jumping, biathlon mixed relay, bobsleigh, skeleton and luge team competitions as well as the Alpine skiing national team event. It also blocked the entry of curling mixed doubles.

''For women's ski jumping, it is still not ready,'' Lindberg said. ''We have to tell the International Ski Federation to promote women's ski jumping to be ready for 2014,'' she added.

IOC member Ottavio Cinquanta said women's ski jumping had a limited appeal at the moment and too few athletes globally practiced the sport.

''Therefore we said no but we don't say it will never be,'' said Cinquanta, who also heads the International Skating Union.

The IOC said it would monitor women's ski jumping and could include it in future Games.

''The Executive Board noted that it would be closely following the development of women's ski jumping with a view of its inclusion in future Olympic Games,'' IOC Director of Communications Giselle Davies told reporters.

Men's ski jumping is part of the Olympic programme.

The decision to include ski cross does not need ratification by the IOC session as it does not increase the number of sports represented at the Olympics. Only the addition or removal of a sport requires a vote by all IOC members.

In ski cross, as in snowboard cross, athletes race simultaneously down a course littered with bumps, rolls and banks.

Snowboard cross made its first Olympic appearance at the 2006 Turin Games and became an instant hit with the crowd.

The IOC also ruled out ski orienteering, ski mountaineering and winter Triathlon for the 2014 Games, the venue for which still has to be decided.

REUTERS KR BST0047