Women’s ski jumping World Cup to start in 2011

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — The International Ski Federation plans to create a women’s ski jumping World Cup series starting with the 2011-12 season.

FIS said Sunday that its ruling council approved the new top-tier event, following the success of the Continental Cup circuit staged since 2005.

FIS is asking the International Olympic Committee to add women’s ski jumping to the 2014 Sochi Winter Games program.

The IOC said the sport lacked world-class competition when it declined to include the women’s discipline at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The inaugural women’s ski jumping world championship was won in 2009 by Lindsey Van of the United States.

The mostly Europe-based Continental Cup was won last season by Daniela Iraschko of Austria.