A major first in the world of winter sports. Norway announced on Monday May 10 its decision to merge its men's and women's national ski jumping teams. They will now only form one formation. Norway's new mixed team will have just 12 jumpers, seven men and five women. They will train and prepare together, regardless of gender, before going their separate ways at the start of next season for international competitions. Explanation from Clas Brede Brathen, the sports director of the national team: “The idea behind this is to highlight the way we work and how we have managed to achieve results, in recent years, with a community where boys and girls have almost always trained together.” The Norwegian example may not be followed, at least in the short term, but it could encourage the International Ski Federation (FIS) to review its regulations. The body still prohibits women from participating in ski flying events.
