Unsafe luge track to reopen with raised wall
On Friday, Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili crashed and was killed after taking a dangerous turn during a practice run at the Whistler track. The track was immediately closed, but now the International Luge Federation is saying training will resume this weekend after proper adjustments are made to the turn in question. The Vancouver Organizing Committee will reportedly raise the turn’s outside wall and alter its ice profile.
From The Vancouver Sun:
Vanoc released a statement saying both the BC Coroners Service and FIL officials had investigated the accident. The federation concluded Kumaritashvili failed to make a correction once he entered the final curve and slammed into the pillar.
“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,” the FIL said. ” 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.
“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.”
This, to me, sounds like the FIL is subtly blaming the athlete for his death. They aren’t being crude about it, but the federation certainly isn’t taking any responsibility.
Also, there must be some “deficiencies in the track” if the VANOC is modifying the track after this tragic accident. In retrospect, I’m sure we’re all wondering why proper precautions weren’t made beforehand. Given the years of preparation, how did this happen? Why wasn’t the wall higher in the first place? Why weren’t those steel poles padded? Did those poles have to be so close to the track?
Photo from fOTOGLIF
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THIS JUNG MAN, Nodar Kumaritasvili WAS ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT. HE DIDN’T MAKES MISTAKES. THE TRACK WAS UNSAFE !!!. IT’s ABSOLUTELY obvious that beside the track THESE IRON POLES shouldn’t BE DESIGNED in that position. ALWAYS such a speed TRACK MUST BE perfectly protected with padded, soft materials, performant absorber MESH !!!. WHO SAY that boy WAS guilty IS A BLIND or accomplice!!!
Rest in peace NODAR !!!
AMIN !
to IOC : you have money for such as Open Festivities, but YOU admit such an UNSAFE speed TRACK like Whistler !!!. YOU can’t cover THE FACTS and the EVIDENCE !!!. REMEMBER IOC:
SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY !!!!
REMEMBRE IOC !!!
This was not the fault of the athelete. Many had crashed and one was knocked unconscious during the practice sessions. It does not take a geneous to see that the exposed rectangular metal poles together with the short wall and uncontrolably unsafe speeds caused this experience athelete’s death. The olympic committee should fix the remaining part of the tract that is still exposed( yes, there are still a bunch of exposed poles upstream from the point Nodar crashed waiting to kill someone else!) admit responsibility for ignoring the cry of the atheletes and apologize to Nodar’s family. What happened to decency?
I was there standing with my family and watching the luge event the night after Nodar passed. Minutes later, I was told that we were at the spot where he crashed into the metal pole that was now covered by a wooden wall they had quickly put together the night before! Admission of guilt! To the olympic committee and the Canadian officials: Be respectful of atheletes and our intelligance! Since when an athelete’s error should lead to his death? It was all the design flaw of the course. The wall was too short and there should have never been exposed metal poles immediateley after the speed trap! They should dedicate the safer modified course to Nodar and his family. Nodar, VIVA FOREEVER!!!!
Tara and Tom,
You both make great, reasonable points. Thanks for commenting.