Vermont JRS 37: Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment

Bill Text

R-247 Page 1 of 2
2026

VT LEG #387707 v.1
No. R-247. Joint resolution supporting, 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 urging that
the International Olympic Committee (IOC) only introduce new Olympic sports that
practice gender equality.
(J.R.S.37)
Offered by Senators Morley and Baruth,
Whereas, Nordic combined is a challenging winter sport, requiring competitors to prove
their skills as both Nordic skiers and alpine ski jumpers, and
Whereas, the first documented Nordic combined competition occurred in Oslo, Norway,
in 1892, 32 years before the inaugural Winter Olympics was held in France in 1924, at
which Nordic combined was one of the featured events, and
Whereas, the proud century of Nordic combined competition in the Winter Olympics
has been tarnished due to its exclusion of women, and
Whereas, women have exhibited outstanding Nordic combined performances in non-
Olympic competition, and among the premier women’s Nordic combined competitors is
Vermonter Tara Geraghty-Moats, who has earned national and international recognition,
and
Whereas, unfortunately for this sport, the exclusion of women from Olympic Nordic
combined competition persuaded Tara Geraghty-Moats to pursue her Winter Olympic
dreams as a biathlon athlete, and
Whereas, Vermont is proudly the home of many outstanding women Winter Olympians,
who are medal winners in sports other than Nordic combined, and
Whereas, ironically, although the IOC recently “welcomed the Political Declaration
adopted unanimously by the 69th session of the [United Nations] Commission on the Status
of Women ... reaffirming the importance of sport as a vehicle for gender equality,” it
continued this exclusionary policy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and
Whereas, beyond 2026, Nordic combined Winter Olympic competition may be
imperiled, as the IOC may decide to eliminate the sport entirely as a way to end this
embarrassing gender exclusion controversy, and
Whereas, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Nordic Combined
USA, and male and female Nordic combined skiers from different nations are strongly
advocating for the IOC to continue this fabled sport in Winter Olympic competition but
with gender equality, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That 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 be it further

R-247 Page 2 of 2
2026

VT LEG #387707 v.1
Resolved: That the General Assembly urges the IOC only to introduce new Olympic
sports that practice gender equality, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
FIS, Nordic Combined USA, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and the IOC.