Committee moves to report resolution urging gender-equal Nordic combined at the Olympics

PROVAN — The Provan House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Feb. 10 heard JRS 37, a joint resolution urging the International Olympic Committee to endorse gender-equal Nordic combined competition and directing the secretary of state to send copies to international and national ski bodies.

Michael Chernick, legislative counsel, read the resolution and its findings to the committee. “This is a resolution, regarding the Olympic skiing activity, very specifically the Nordic combine,” he said, reading legislative language that characterizes Nordic combined as a “challenging winter sport” and recounts its long history in international competition. Chernick cited Vermont athlete Tara Garrity Moats as an example named in the text, noting she pursued biathlon after women were excluded from Olympic Nordic combined events.

The resolution as presented says the general assembly “supports in solidarity with national and international ski organizations and numerous skiers across the globe, the introduction of long overdue gender equality in Nordic combined Olympic competition,” and it urges the IOC “only to introduce new Olympic sports that practice gender equality.” The text also directs the secretary of state to send copies to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Nordic Combined USA, U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the International Olympic Committee.

Committee members asked whether the IOC was considering eliminating Nordic combined. Chernick said multiple news reports offered different reasons — including lower television popularity — and that some accounts speculated the IOC might remove the discipline to end the controversy. “I saw multiples factors,” he said, summarizing press coverage. He also told the panel that the senate had added a clause written to apply beyond just the Winter Olympics and that he chose the word “equality” rather than “equity” after an office review of terms.

At the close of the presentation, the chair said he would entertain a motion to report favorably on JRS 37; the transcript records the call for a motion but does not record who moved or seconded it or any vote tally. Chernick told the committee the measure originated with Senator Morling, who was not present.

The committee did not take a recorded roll-call vote on the resolution in the available transcript. The next procedural step noted on the record was the request to move the resolution forward for a favorable report; mover, second and final disposition are not specified in the meeting record provided.