Winter Olympics - Luge goes ahead after tragedy

Reuters - Sat, 13 Feb 08:04:00 2010

The Vancouver Olympics luge competition will resume on Saturday, a day after a Georgian athlete died in a training run, Games organisers said.

2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver Nodar Kumaritashvili - 0

"The FIL (International Luge Federation) will resume men's training Saturday morning with two full training runs prior to the competition taking place as scheduled at 17h00 (0100 GMT)," VANOC said in a statement.

Georgian luge competitor Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a crash at the Whistler Sliding Centre when he lost control at 90mph and was launched over the rim of the track before slamming into an unpadded pillar.

The 21-year-old died in hospital after medics performed resuscitation at the scene and flew him down the mountain.

His death, the first at a Winter Games since the 1992 Albertville Olympics, came on the day of the Games opening ceremony.

"It appears after a routine run, the athlete came late out of curve 15 and did not compensate properly to make correct entrance into curve 16," VANOC and FIL said in a joint statement.

"This resulted in a late entrance into curve 16 and although the athlete worked to correct the problem he eventually lost control of the sled resulting in the tragic accident."

VANOC and FIL said the British Columbia coroners service had also completed their investigation and although the accident was not caused by track deficiencies, alterations had now been made to avoid similar "exceptional" crashes.

Many athletes prior to the crash had said the track was extremely fast.

"The technical officials of the FIL were able to retrace the path of the athlete and concluded there was no indication that the accident was caused by deficiencies in the track," VANOC and FIL said.

"Based on these findings the race director, in consultation with the FIL, made the decision to reopen the track following a raising of the walls at the exit of curve 16 and a change in the ice profile."

"This was done as a preventative measure, in order to avoid that such an extremely exceptional accident could occur again," they said.

Follow the Winter Olympics 24/7 on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin 521) and Eurosport HD (Sky 412) British Eurosport channels are streamed online via the Eurosport Player.

Reuters

Comment 149 - 168 of 168

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  1. there was definately something wrong with the track­ thats why they have redone it after the fatal incident.­ too bad for the loss of life. but as i said, if its in­ other parts of the world, it could have been blown out­ of proportion which shouldn't be the case.

    From alfred, on Tue 16 Feb 3:13

  2. who was blaming the angola shootout at the togolese­ bus? this is an act of terrorism by the host nation, no­ difference with the occuring in angola.

    From alfred, on Tue 16 Feb 3:08

  3. The Olympic officials certainly isn't doing their­ ethical duty to do enough investigation of the­ unfortunate accident. It's disgusting to hear­ that all the blame is being solely put on the young­ man. The truth is, there were valid concerns­ regarding this particular track and the fact that it­ was unusually faster than most tracks that the­ competitors have raced on in the past.

    I would like­ the real truth please

    From Ellen M, on Mon 15 Feb 17:25

  4. so sad that, that had to happen to him i am going to­ have a two minute silence for him today:(

    From bethany.matlock, on Mon 15 Feb 0:38

  5. I am absolutely horrified by the blasé way in which the­ death of this man has been passed off. Apparently HE­ made the mistake, not those who condoned the use of a­ run already with question marks regarding safety­ hanging over it. How the hell did any of these­ sportsmen end up on a luge with contact points of METAL­ STRUTS? I cannot help but wonder that if this young man­ were Canadian, American or British whether we would be­ a little more concerned. Accidental death? These guys­ know the risks but the least they can expect from the­ authorities is some protection when things go wrong. I­ am disgusted at how this death has been brushed under­ the carpet.

    From Kim, on Sun 14 Feb 16:06

  6. There's no mention of Yahoo (american company)­ previously reporting the US was complaining Canada was­ restricting practice to other countries. Hopefully­ they've dropped that propaganda. It's the­ Olympics, the IOC and each sport's international­ governing body set the rules, not the host country.

    From SD, on Sun 14 Feb 15:11
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It's unfortunate but fatalities happen in all­ sports. Horse Racing and Angling are pretty dangerous.­ It's when it happens on TV in front of an­ unsuspecting viewer that it seems much more gut­ wrenching. Don't get me wrong I feel very sorry for­ this guy and his family but I feel far sadder when a­ young soldier is killed in Helmand or when Mcqueen­ killed himself after losing his mum. Luge is a­ dangerous sport and the risks are well known. I just­ hope that after all the dust settles they find out that­ it was "pilot error" because if there is­ something wrong with that track that caused his death­ then someone must be held to account and that­ prosecution will drag on for ever and spoil these­ olympics.

    From prissick, on Sun 14 Feb 14:34

  8. Georgian nation is very sad about this unbelievable­ tragedy. This young man was one of the sportsmen who­ dreams about the Olympic Games. He just came to Canada­ to show how he loved sport. We are just 5 million­ nation and thank you all who supported us in this hard­ days. Nodar was from Bakuriani. From a small village­ and from honorable family. In this days we, Georgian­ people are one big family, who support his family.

    From sandro, on Sun 14 Feb 14:30

  9. as an athlete of high risk 'games' i think­ Nodar Kumaritashvili knew the dangerous that­ 'always' follow everytime he joined­ competitions. but i dont think is mean he want to die­ or just simply looking for die. as his 'soul'­ enjoy high risk 'games' cant be simplicity mean­ he looking for die. he deserve of simpathy and respect.­ in other side, serious investigation is strongly­ needed, to make sure the officials of olympic gamesn­ not made mistake (mistakes) in prepare everything­ according standard of safety

    From ku-kang, on Sun 14 Feb 13:50

  10. Death at a sports arena. The trgedy is beyond belief! A­ 21-year old lad! 18- 18-year olds are getting killed in­ the front lone at Afghanistan is seen in a different­ light. But all this is avoidable. The question is­ should life be spent for a gold medal?

    From S Anand, on Sun 14 Feb 13:28

  11. R.I.P i hope this man is remembered for being a great­ man and taking part in the olimpics not for some minor­ thing he did before now the poor man is dead and i feel­ you should give him atleast a little respect i­ didn't know this man but from some of the things­ that are written up here i am upset and discusted that­ people would for 1 be so afencive and 2 to a dead man­ have a little heart and i am going to take a 2 minute­ silence for this man and i hope you'll spare­ atleast 1.

    From orangefrog, on Sun 14 Feb 13:22

  12. I was shocked to see the accident happen today on tv­ but what shocked even more the fact that it was shown­ again. I feel for the poor family of the young man and­ think that Eurosport show have shown more respect for­ the family and not shown the accident as many times as­ they did. My heart goes out to them.

    From Angela, on Sun 14 Feb 13:17

  13. 21 yrs old, very very sad. He died doing what he loved.­ Comms to his family and friends.HOPE there is no more­ fatals in this 2010 olympics.xxx.

    From phillips.mel52, on Sun 14 Feb 13:17

  14. It was with great sadness that I heard about the loss­ of this talented young man. I hope that if his family­ do ever read the comments left on this site, that they­ get comfort from the majority of people who share in­ their loss with sympathy. I am sure you have great­ pride in your son and rightly so, he may have chosen to­ take part in a dangerous sport, but he also chose to­ work very hard to make the national team and make his­ country and his family proud of him. In this world,­ where many young people seem to be lost these days, it­ is inspiring to see young men do something positive for­ their country. May he be fondly remembered with­ pride.

    From dawngoremykina, on Sun 14 Feb 13:14

  15. Oh No poor guy but he died doing a great thing thats 1­ good side it is a very riscky sport i am going to have­ a 2min silence for him! :'(

    From orangefrog, on Sun 14 Feb 13:11
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Bryn I dont know who you are but what a maldito cono tu­ eres un mamaguevo!!

    From alandevonshire, on Sun 14 Feb 13:00

  17. Post 160: sarahgrier.1 ...if you are still around, can­ I ask what YOU do with yourself to enjoy and improve­ your own life? If you are reading this I challenge you­ to answer ....because from what you have posted YOU are­ a small minded, jealous, uninspired slob. You need to­ deal with being such an individual and not resort to­ submitting such heartless rubbish. It is quite likely­ that the family (including very young relatives) of­ this person are reading these comments in an effort to­ seek comfort from others.
    OMG! I would LOVE to see what­ people would write about YOU when you do come to the­ end of your life. IMHO you would be ashemed to read­ what they have to say...

    From Harry H, on Sun 14 Feb 12:53

  18. It was an unfortunate incident and i cannot belilve it­ happened

    From WiseOldOwl, on Sun 14 Feb 12:47

  19. This is terrible.RIP.I feel sorry for his family­ aswell.

    From Chris, on Sun 14 Feb 12:46

  20. I understand the FIL report however I don't agree­ in the words the chose to use when they place the blame­ on this unfortunate accident

    From Brayo, on Sun 14 Feb 12:45
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