Dame Kelly and Alcott slam 'sexist' Cresta run

Bobsleigh & Skeleton Winter Sports Post a comment

Posted: Friday 26th December 2008 | 15:14

LEADING British sportswoman have backed a campaign to drop the men only rule for the famous Cresta run.

Cresta Run in St Moritz
GIRLS NOT ALLOWED: The famous St Moritz Cresta run has been criticised for its men only rule by British Olympians Dame Kelly Holmes and Chemmy Alcott

Set up 128 years ago and governed by the private members' St Moritz Tobogganing Club, the Cresta run attracts more than 600 riders every nine-week winter season.

Male non-members can ride for a fee, but women have been banned from the course since the 1920s, when a female rider nearly died on its icy slopes.

However, a campaign by the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation to reverse the policy has attracted support from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes and Britain's leading Alpine alpine skier, Chemmy Alcott.

"Tradition has to change when it is going against equality," said Alcott.

Dame Kelly added: "This is sexist. If you are trying to encourage young women to take part in sport you have to show them there are a wide range of events they can compete in."

It's not the first case of extreme winter sport being closed to women.

A coalition of female ski-jumpers is suing Vanoc, the Vancouver organising committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, over the exclusion of women's ski-jumping.

The Cresta season was due to begin on December 19th but weather conditions mean the natural circuit won't stage its first race until this weekend's Nino Bibbia Challenge Cup, named in honour of the Italian winner of the skeleton gold at the 1948 Olympics in St Moritz.