All they want is a chance to plead their case.

The 15 women ski jumpers who are suing for the right to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games are asking International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge to meet with two of them to discuss a 2006 decision to leave the women out of the Vancouver Olympic Games.

The IOC's Executive Board is meeting Wednesday, today and Friday in Denver, and two representatives of the ski group flew to Denver in hopes of facilitating that meeting.

Deedee Corradini, president of the U.S. Women's Ski Jumping Association, said the athletes just want a chance to plead their case directly to Rogge, one of the few people with the power to include them.

"They just want to go through the numbers and the rationale for the decision, as well as why the women are ready and deserve it," said Corradini.

She said it will also allow everyone involved to avoid legal action, as the women have sued the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the right to participate. A trial is scheduled for April 20.

"Nobody really wanted to do it, but it was a last resort," she said.

The skiers sent a letter to Rogge last week asking him to meet with them, but they have heard nothing from him or the IOC's executive board. Corradini, who had plenty of experience with IOC officials as mayor of Salt Lake City during the bid for the 2002 Winter Games, admits that it is tough to get a meeting with Rogge.

"Traditionally, it's a long shot," she said. "But this has gotten enough attention that we're hoping perhaps he will consider it."

Park City resident and 2009 women's ski jumping world champion Lindsey Van is one of two plaintiffs in the lawsuit preparing to meet with Rogge.

"We're ready," said Van at Wednesday's news conference. "Our sport has developed incredibly in the three years since that decision was made, and we would really appreciate the opportunity to tell our story to him personally.

"The number of women competing has soared, as has the number of countries participating. In fact, we outnumber women in sports like bobsleigh, luge, ski-cross and snowboard cross, which are already in the Olympics."

Corradini said Rogge would have to take the issue to the IOC's Executive Board, which would make the final decision on the issue.

"He has the capacity to take it to the Executive Board and ask them to reconsider the decision," she said. "If they do that, everybody looks wonderful. ... We have our first gender-equal Olympics in history. Everybody is a winner."

The City Council of Vancouver unanimously passed a resolution on March 3 demanding that VANOC and the IOC include women ski jumpers in 2010. A few days later, several Canadians joined the suit.

There are 160 women from 18 different countries currently participating in international competitions at the highest level.

E-MAIL: adonaldson@desnews.com