Man dies at Winter Olympics

[Girgy85]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic_games/vancouver_2010/luge/8513595.stm

[The Camel]

The luge is a crazy dangerous sport.

I guess that is part of the appeal to the athletes who choose to participate in it.

[gatso]

it's amazing more people don't die at the winter games. it's basically where all the nutters do suicidal sports. luge, bob, skeleton, downhill and to a lesser extent the other alpine disciplines and ski jumping should see more people wiped out

[KarmaDope]

The luge is a crazy dangerous sport.

I guess that is part of the appeal to the athletes who choose to participate in it.

Understatement of the year. I don't get the appeal of lying on your back on a tea tray and flying down a rock hard hill at speeds faster than a 1.0 car.

[mondatoo]

This is horrible thing to happen,RIP

But i don't understand this quote on the bbc "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they throw down a track? I mean, this is our lives"Hannah Campbell-Pegg, Australian luger

She isn't being forced to do this so i really don't understand her point here,this is a tragic incident but they aren't forced to do this and this is just how life is,or am i wrong ?

[Longy]

This is horrible thing to happen,RIP

But i don't understand this quote on the bbc "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they throw down a track? I mean, this is our lives"Hannah Campbell-Pegg, Australian luger

She isn't being forced to do this so i really don't understand her point here,this is a tragic incident but they aren't forced to do this and this is just how life is,or am i wrong ?

I think the point she is trying to make that there is a line that has been crossed with this particular run. If you are luger you aren't going to practice for the sport year in, year out and then skip the Olympics because the track maybe dangerous.

[mondatoo]

This is horrible thing to happen,RIP

But i don't understand this quote on the bbc "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they throw down a track? I mean, this is our lives"Hannah Campbell-Pegg, Australian luger

She isn't being forced to do this so i really don't understand her point here,this is a tragic incident but they aren't forced to do this and this is just how life is,or am i wrong ?

I think the point she is trying to make that there is a line that has been crossed with this particular run. If you are luger you aren't going to practice for the sport year in, year out and then skip the Olympics because the track maybe dangerous.

Is the track unsafe then ?

Pretty sure i would fade it despite it being the olympics if i thought it was that unsafe

[TheChipPrince]

Top speed at whistler is 96 mph, thats unbelieveable

[jakally]

Is the track unsafe then ?

No, perfectly safe apparently............

[mondatoo]

Is the track unsafe then ?

No, perfectly safe apparently............

Sigh,i should probably just stop posting as i don't know all the facts,apologies for my ignorance but surely one death doesn't just mean it's because of the track,it could be a freak accident yes

[Claw75]

Is the track unsafe then ?

No, perfectly safe apparently............

Sigh,i should probably just stop posting as i don't know all the facts,apologies for my ignorance but surely one death doesn't just mean it's because of the track,it could be a freak accident yes

says in the article Mond that concerns had been raised about this particular track being a bit fast, particularly for less experienced teams who haven't had the opportunity to get much practice on other tracks before heading over.

[TheChipPrince]

Here is a vid and some pics, its pretty graphic just to warn...  RIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/12/nodar-kumaritashvili-cras_n_460474.html

[mondatoo]

Is the track unsafe then ?

No, perfectly safe apparently............

Sigh,i should probably just stop posting as i don't know all the facts,apologies for my ignorance but surely one death doesn't just mean it's because of the track,it could be a freak accident yes

says in the article Mond that concerns had been raised about this particular track being a bit fast, particularly for less experienced teams who haven't had the opportunity to get much practice on other tracks before heading over.

Obviously her comment was made with raw emotion as she'd be upset so fair enough,but as a professional at what they do they'd know the track was not 100% certain but still choose to participate all i'm saying is this wasn't forced,i don't mean to be cold it is a shame and a tragedy.Best i leave it at that imo

[jakally]

I guess it's a really tough call for them.

By definition, the people who participate in these events have an aversion to fear, and a willingness to confront challenges put in front of them.
Add to that the fact it is the biggest event of the year, it is not a surprise that they would press on, even if they recognised an increased risk.

[Woodsey]

The Olympics is all about participation and they obviously try and encourage a wide range of countries to enter. This is just plain daft in some of these sports which are pretty dangerous, your either up to scratch or you aren't. Apparently this guy wouldn't have been good enough to compete at the world champs, says it all really............