This isn't good for Vancouver, all ready beset with one disaster after another - after all there's no snow for the winter Olympics. A major disaster in and of itself but nothing compared to the Luge track which sadly, terribly claimed a life today.
Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, of Soviet Georgia was killed in a horrific crash today on a practice run. The accident is horrendous and difficult to watch (yes, it's on video). Our condolences go out to his entire family and teammates.
This is the 12th accident on the same track this month as Olympians converge on Vancouver for training runs. The mens Luge competition is scheduled to begin tomorrow but there's no way. No Way. As of now, the Georgian team is thinking of packing it up and heading home - a mere hours before Opening Ceremonies are due to begin. This is horrible for everyone involved. A Man Died. Georgia wants the entire event canceled. Can you blame them?
Athletes are super critical of this track, dubbed the fastest in the world, and which seems unnecessarily dangerous, using the athletes "like guinea pigs." There have been a dozen high speed crashes on the track as well as a new world speed record. It simply isn't safe. The pole that poor Nodar hit at 140km an hour was unpadded and his body bounced off it like a sack of flour.
Several of the crashes resulted in hospital visits and an athlete being knocked unconscious for a few minutes. 140km an hour is slow on this track and officials are looking into modifying tracks for the 2014 Olympics that are actually designed with safety in mind.
Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, of Soviet Georgia was killed in a horrific crash today on a practice run. The accident is horrendous and difficult to watch (yes, it's on video). Our condolences go out to his entire family and teammates.
This is the 12th accident on the same track this month as Olympians converge on Vancouver for training runs. The mens Luge competition is scheduled to begin tomorrow but there's no way. No Way. As of now, the Georgian team is thinking of packing it up and heading home - a mere hours before Opening Ceremonies are due to begin. This is horrible for everyone involved. A Man Died. Georgia wants the entire event canceled. Can you blame them?
Athletes are super critical of this track, dubbed the fastest in the world, and which seems unnecessarily dangerous, using the athletes "like guinea pigs." There have been a dozen high speed crashes on the track as well as a new world speed record. It simply isn't safe. The pole that poor Nodar hit at 140km an hour was unpadded and his body bounced off it like a sack of flour.
Several of the crashes resulted in hospital visits and an athlete being knocked unconscious for a few minutes. 140km an hour is slow on this track and officials are looking into modifying tracks for the 2014 Olympics that are actually designed with safety in mind.
UPDATE:
The womens downhill ski event has been canceled due to RAIN and the mens event is also in jeopardy at this hour. Athletes are upset to say the least.
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