House backs resolution urging IOC to add women's Nordic combined division

Representative Duke presented Joint Senate Resolution 37, saying Nordic combined "combines a competition in cross country skiing with ski jumping" and that while women's participation and competition quality have grown internationally, there remains only a men's Olympic division.

"This joint resolution urges the International Olympic Committee to add a women's division to the Nordic combined and to only allow add sports to the Olympics that offer both men's and women's divisions," Duke said. He told members the committee on commerce and economic development heard from the lieutenant governor, the senate sponsor, and the Vermont Ski Areas Association and passed the resolution.

The Member from Northfield asked whether the resolution would be read to require future men's sports to be added only as combined teams without separate women's divisions; Representative Duke replied: "The resolution asks that all Olympic sports have both a men's and a women's division. It does not speak to having the divisions combined."

The House approved reading the resolution a third time by voice vote and third reading was ordered.