[clarkfgafc]

RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili


It unfortunately shows how dangerous the sport is.

[Sooky]

clarkfgafc, on 12 February 2010 - 21:02, said:

RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili

It unfortunately shows how dangerous the sport is.

There are now serious doubts over the staging of all the sliding events

[iron mike python]

clarkfgafc, on 12 February 2010 - 21:02, said:

RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili


It unfortunately shows how dangerous the sport is.

He was pronounced sled on arrival at the hospital.

[Sooky]

iron mike python, on 12 February 2010 - 21:48, said:

He was pronounced sled on arrival at the hospital.

[iron mike python]

Sooky, on 12 February 2010 - 22:03, said:

this is a story all about how
my sled got flipped, turned upside down
i'd like to luge a minute just sit right there
ill tell you how i hugged a pole while tumbling through the air

in west georgia born and raised
on the luging track is where i spend most of my days
chillin out, luging, and flyin all cool
and all hittin unpadded poles outside of the school
when a couple of lugers who were up to no good
started finishing runs in my neighborhood
i did one practice run and my mom got scared
and said you're gonna hit a pole while flying through the air

[clarkfgafc]

Sooky, on 12 February 2010 - 21:15, said:

There are now serious doubts over the staging of all the sliding events

Would be a great shame but understandable!
I think it is quite concerning (after reading the BBC article) that it was apparent that certain athletes felt that the Vancouver track was particularly dangerous.

Just saw the video of the crash and it is alarming at the lack of any padding/protection on the poles that are less than 2 metres from the track, tragic.

[The Phoenix]

Every sympathy but travelling at nearly 70 mph downhill, on ice using a beer tray is asking for trouble.

[Drunken Hobo]

The Phoenix, on 12 February 2010 - 22:10, said:

Every sympathy but travelling at nearly 70 mph downhill, on ice using a beer tray is asking for trouble.

Try 95mph...


I believe the expression is "Bugger that for a game of soldiers".

[The Phoenix]

Drunken Hobo, on 12 February 2010 - 22:24, said:

Try 95mph...


I believe the expression is "Bugger that for a game of soldiers".

Trust me, I'd keep the brake on... oh, wait a minute.

[A-Mac]

Just watched the footage on youtube, terrible stuff.

[keithgy]

[BishyTON]

a_mac, on 12 February 2010 - 23:56, said:

Just watched the footage on youtube, terrible stuff.

Yeah it is horrific. That track is a deathtrap and if the IOC have any sense they will either cancel the Luge and the Skeleton or else move them to another track. It might cost us medals, but at the end of the day peoples lives are at stake here.

[Sooky]

BishyTON, on 13 February 2010 - 00:16, said:

Yeah it is horrific. That track is a deathtrap and if the IOC have any sense they will either cancel the Luge and the Skeleton or else move them to another track. It might cost us medals, but at the end of the day peoples lives are at stake here.

Agreed. Vancouver must have another track somewhere.

A lot of athletes have commented on the track and how dangerous it is. An athlete got knocked unconsious as well.

Opening Ceremony starts soon.

[Smurph]

Sooky, on 13 February 2010 - 00:29, said:

Opening Ceremony starts soon.

What time at?

I can't be bothered checking myself.

[Fuctifano]

keithgy, on 13 February 2010 - 00:07, said:

I might just be being wise after the event here but why isn't there some form of padded crash barrier above the edges of the track?

[Sooky]

Smurph, on 13 February 2010 - 00:47, said:

What time at?

I can't be bothered checking myself.

1:45 until 4:45

[Smurph]

Sooky, on 13 February 2010 - 01:11, said:

1:45 until 4:45

Cheers.

Fucking hell, that's too late for me. I'll watch Scrubs on E4+1 and go to bed instead.

[Sooky]

Smurph, on 13 February 2010 - 01:18, said:

Cheers.

Fucking hell, that's too late for me. I'll watch Scrubs on E4+1 and go to bed instead.

Well if it helps it's only 15:45 Canadian time.

[Sooky]

Away to start watching now. Just wait 10 minutes.

[Sooky]

Good opening ceremony.

[Dean Murdoch]

Sooky, on 13 February 2010 - 00:29, said:

Agreed. Vancouver must have another track somewhere.

A lot of athletes have commented on the track and how dangerous it is. An athlete got knocked unconsious as well.

Opening Ceremony starts soon.

Another track? There are only about 15 or 20 sliding tracks in the world, most of which are in former winter olympic venues. The next closest to Whistler is the Calgary sliding centre which was built for the 1988 games. These artificially cooled luge/bobsleigh tracks cost a significant amount of money to both build and operate. They are currently investigating the accident but in the end I think the result will be that the events go ahead, and that this tragic accident was down to an inexperienced competitor being on a track that is probably too fast for most people.

The opening ceremony was alright, but as a Canadian I began to get frustrated by this country's endless pandering to minority groups, in this case both indians and quebeckers.

Good to see alot of other people are excited for hockey. Canada will win.

[Sooky]

Dean Murdoch, on 13 February 2010 - 05:59, said:

Another track? There are only about 15 or 20 sliding tracks in the world, most of which are in former winter olympic venues. The next closest to Whistler is the Calgary sliding centre which was built for the 1988 games. These artificially cooled luge/bobsleigh tracks cost a significant amount of money to both build and operate. They are currently investigating the accident but in the end I think the result will be that the events go ahead, and that this tragic accident was down to an inexperienced competitor being on a track that is probably too fast for most people.

Well sorry. I'm no expert at Winter sports.

The opening ceremony was alright, but as a Canadian I began to get frustrated by this country's endless pandering to minority groups, in this case both indians and quebeckers.

I agree with you on the minority groups. The animated computery stuff was braw though.


Good to see alot of other people are excited for hockey. Canada will win.


No the Ruskies will.

[Ned Nederlander]

clarkfgafc, on 12 February 2010 - 21:02, said:

RIP Nodar Kumaritashvili


It unfortunately shows how dangerous the sport is.

It was covered (almost to) extensively on Eurosport this morning


... and then the cut to adverts where the official video game declared that pain was only temporary

[lichtie23]

Bordeaux, on 12 February 2010 - 20:33, said:

The death of a luge competitor who left the track at high speed has cast a shadow over the Winter Olympics in Canada ahead of the opening ceremony.

Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili's sled flipped and he smashed into a steel pole at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

That's sad news.

RIP

[Dave]

Video is here if anyone is interested.


Scary stuff, and I was talking to a friend of mine earlier in the week saying I'd only watch the Winter Olympics for things like the Luge & Bobsleigh to see when they crash...

RIP.