The IOC's ruling Executive Board claimed that they need more time before making a final decision, although they were looking "favourably" on slopestyle events in snowboard and Alpine freestyle, ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon, and team events in figure skating and luge.

A final decision is now expected to be made by IOC President Jacques Rogge next April once all the events have staged their World Championships.

The IOC said that they believed including the events would increase universality, gender equality and youth appeal, and in general add value to the Games, but wanted more time to study them.

It is women's ski jumping's third attempt to be included on the programme having previously been rejected by the IOC due to its lack of top competitors, a decision they failed to overturn earlier last year even though they took their case to the Supreme Court of Canada in a late attempt to get it included on the programme for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The inaugural women's ski jumping World Championship took place last year in Liberec, Czech Republic, and was won by Lindsey Van of the United States.

"I'm not surprised [they delayed the decision]," said Van. 

"But they didn’t say 'no,' so I still have hope."

Next year's World Championships are due to be held in Oslo on February 25 and are now the most important event in the history of women's ski jumping.

The International Ski Federation (FIS) also plans to start a women's ski jumping World Cup circuit starting with the 2011-12 season.

Women have competed on the Continental Cup circuit since 2005.

The Executive Board also agreed that freestyle skiing for men and women - which made its debut in Vancouver earlier this year - would be maintained on the programme for Sochi 2014.

Women's ice hockey, which was criticised in Vancouver for being too uncompetitive, also retained its place.

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