Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

A 21 year old Georgian luger has died on a training run.  So upsetting.  And of course likely to put a pall on much that follows, particularly tonight's ceremonies.   And there are pictures, PICTURES, of him leaving the track and smacking into a metal pole on multiple news outlets.  That's absoutely reprehensible.

lol    i heard there was a 'huge accident' had myself no idea they even meant 'luge'
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[/QUOTE]cant imagine the shame of dying in the worlds easiest event .....   lie down, wiggle ass, let gravity take over[/QUOTE]
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[/QUOTE]RIP Nodar though it is a sad day for his country[/QUOTE]

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[b]Major Tom wrote: [/b]

I´ll watch the hockey, the only chance for a Swedish medal I guess.[/QUOTE]

if they miss out there is always two chance for a [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoKhOGflcy8]swedish metal[/url] instead
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The death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili cast a shadow on the games. He was only 21 years old and surely all his family and friends must have been so happy for him and then such a tragedy happens. The other athletes must feel very bad now.

Since the games will go on I hope to watch ski jumping, bobsleigh (yes...), biathlon, speed skating and hockey. It will be late night TV all the way.

Yara - have a great time, it must be very exciting to be there. I would love to donate some snow which we have in abundance :-)

ya gotta love IOC officials in regards to the death of the Georgian luger

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/luge/news?slug=ap-lug-lugerdies&prov=ap&type=lgns

Read also where a Romanian woman luger was knocked unconscious the previous day during a trial run.

Risk is involved in any sport, and everyday life to varying degrees.  But when chronic complaints arise from knowledgeable and concerned individuals, safeguards are supposed to be implemented so that incidents like this are avoided.

oh, and as to this being an 'easy' sport.......if it was, everyone would do it, correct?  They understand the danger.  Call it courage or foolhardiness.  But they don't expect the danger to be life threatening.

I may sound stupid, but I think the Olympics should be canceled or at least delayed.
If death in the first day isn't a good reason, what is ?
What kind of society did we become when invested money is more important then showing respect to a death colleague ?

when one gets on a small goosefat greased baking tray and travels downhill for a mile at 95mph on ice then one is taking their life in their hands.He knew the risks before he died so in my opinion [for what its worth] they've [the IOC] have done the right thing in moving it to the womens track to cut down on the risk of further death or injury but they should never cancel the games because of it.On saying that,they could of and should of insured that the crash barrier was sufficient enough to of saved his life.
"the show must go on" as some group once sang...

Shocking and sad  hearing about the 21 year old luger who lost his life in that terrible accident. May he rest in Peace

By TIM REYNOLDS AND TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writers
WHISTLER, British Columbia(AP)—

Fast and frightening, yes. Responsible for the death of a luger, no.
Olympic officials decided late Friday night against any major
changes in the track or any delays in competition and even doubled up
on the schedule in the wake of the horrifying accident that claimed the
life of a 21-year-old luger from the republic of Georgia.
They said they would raise the wall where the slider flew off the
track and make an unspecified “change in the ice profile” - but only as
a preventative measure “to avoid that such an extremely exceptional
accident could occur again.”
 Within sight of the finish line, Nodar Kumaritashvili crashed coming out of
the 16th turn and slammed into an unpadded steel pole while traveling
nearly 90 mph. Despite frantic attempts by paramedics to save his life,
he died at a trauma center.
Concerns about the lightning-fast course had been raised for months.
There were worries that the $100 million-plus venue was too technically
difficult, and a lack of significant practice time by everyone but the
host nation’s sliders would result in a rash of accidents.
But the International Luge Federation and Vancouver Olympic
officials said their investigation showed that the crash was the result
of human error and that “there was no indication that the accident was
caused by deficiencies in the track.”
In a joint statement they said Kumaritashvili was late coming out of
the next-to-last turn and failed to compensate. “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.”

in short version, he became a human pancake :D

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[b]pittrek wrote: [/b]

I may sound stupid, but I think the Olympics should be canceled or at least delayed.
If death in the first day isn't a good reason, what is ?
What kind of society did we become when invested money is more important then showing respect to a death colleague ?
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Do you know how many millions of dollars you're talking about over one dead luger?  C'mon, really?  Completely re-program NBC's schedule for this guy?

Now, if LeBron James collided with the backboard and was instantly killed, OK.

eager to see/hear DEVO Feb. 22

will probably tune in for the curling

[/QUOTE]Yesterday night at the pairs short program (figure skating), a Chinese couple performed "Who Wants to Live Forever".... in instrumental version....   After this:  "Go China!"  ....   [img=/images/smiley/msn/tounge_smile.gif][/img][/QUOTE]
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[img=/images/smiley/msn/thumbs_up.gif][/img] Congratulations to Alexandre Bilodeau for winning Canada's first gold medal on home soil in freestyle skiing!!!

He says "Thanks Queenzoners, eh."

Well shore 'nuff, lets raise our sodas for a toast!