Horific Accident at the Olympic

[dammitgibs]

If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge an iron beam

 

[DaveSimmons]

The Olympics should be canceled in memory of the Haiti earthquake victims. Think of the children!

 

[Fayd]

If you can dodge a wrench you can dodge an iron beam

i laughed hysterically at this.

and then descended into a coughing fit. damn cold.

 

[manowar821]

Don't punish those who didn't bitch.

 

[Kadarin]

There have been many deaths on far less infamous tracks, it happens in such a sporting event.

Really?

The only previous Olympic luge fatality was at Innsbruck in 1964 -- the first Games to include luge -- when British competitor Kazimierz Kay died during a training run.

From here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/olympics/2010/02/12/luge.death/index.html?cnn=yes&hpt=T3

 

[Tsavo]

They need to at least wrap some fucking foam around those exposed iron beams.

For what? To soak up the blood and make it harder to find the teeth that have been embedded in the object the foam has been wrapped around?

 

[rockyct]

Fixed that for you.

Boooo, curling is awesome.

 

[biggestmuff]

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

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.

 

[sandorski]

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

I've heard on the news that they are raising the height of the boards in that area as well.

 

[Mucho]

The show must go on!

 

[Ricemarine]

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

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...13_georgian_rep_blame_track__not_athlete.html

Apparently the georgian official isn't too happy about it...

 

[OUCaptain]

Pushing our limits is what makes us human. The moment we stop pushing and start listening to the "every life is precious" mentality, we will die as a species. Mark my words

 

[Lonyo]

not sure enough foam could possibly be used to make it safe. plexi deflect shields around the dodgy area to keep people from flying off the track is a better idea

The part he died due to wasn't even one of the parts they were worried about the danger of.

 

[StageLeft]

It is dangerous but to dismiss the concerns about this track under the idea that "it's just dangerous, live with it or go home" is silly especially in light of that post showing that nobody has died from this sport in 46 years.

 

[wwswimming]

Why? Those guys are extreme athletes and know the dangers. It's no different than any other extreme sport and it will keep tens of millions of people glued to their TV tubes watching and waiting for the next accident.

Much like NASCAR.

but these admittedly extreme athletes are

COMPLAINING THAT THE COURSE ISN'T SAFE.

most people wouldn't set foot on a 'slow' 80 mile per hour luge course.

when the extreme athletes comment about safety - it's TIME TO LISTEN.

i doubt this will be the last athlete death from these Olympics - since it sounds like the administrators are not listening to the people who know - the extreme athletes.

 

[StageLeft]

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/02/13/probe-olympic-track-didnt-cause-lugers-death/

IOC not making any major changes to track, blame it on human error.

 

[OUCaptain]

The part he died due to wasn't even one of the parts they were worried about the danger of.

Your point? By no means do I wish to see this sport disappear due to knee jerk "it's too dangerous" reactions. But I'm sure you can't disagree that a hard corner into a straight with steel I-beams lining the sides is a wise decision. It's not like we haven't seen this type of crash before.

I agree this is a horrible and avoidable death. The fact remains that these guys have been challenging death from the moment the sport was invented. They chose to take their own life into their own hands. This is the responsibility that we all take on every day.

 

[OUCaptain]

It is dangerous but to dismiss the concerns about this track under the idea that "it's just dangerous, live with it or go home" is silly especially in light of that post showing that nobody has died from this sport in 46 years.

It has to happen eventually.

 

[meltdown75]

Rip

 

[Itchrelief]

Nets right on top of the track. Minimizing upward traveling movements, fine mesh made out of high strength materials... These nets would be deployed above the corners where accidents like these are possible. Viewing obstruction is MINIMAL, and it's also a lot softer than plexi-glass. The time that a lugger would spend underneath these nets would be fraction of a second.

Seriously, you should think "outside of the box" every once in a while, schools don't generally touch much on the subject of common sense.

The softness is irrelevant, as the plexiglass should act as a smooth extension of the track itself and define a sort of tube to redirect the participant onto the iced portions of the track. The flexibility of the net is actually more of a danger IMO as it allows a small chance of the rider being hurtled back onto the edge rather than the sliding surface of the track after the net deforms.

edit: the net would most likely be much cheaper

 

[sdifox]

The softness is irrelevant, as the plexiglass should act as a smooth extension of the track itself and define a sort of tube to redirect the participant onto the iced portions of the track. The flexibility of the net is actually more of a danger IMO as it allows a small chance of the rider being hurtled back onto the edge rather than the sliding surface of the track after the net deforms.

edit: the net would most likely be much cheaper

Plexiglass if anything. Nets bring a whole different issue, snag.

 

[JJChicken]

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2010/02/13/probe-olympic-track-didnt-cause-lugers-death/

IOC not making any major changes to track, blame it on human error.

Classless, absolutely classless.

 

[StageLeft]

I do think plexi would be better, too, it would act as a slide. A net would compress and thus "grab" the person if they hit it perpendicular much at all.

 

[StageLeft]

Classless, absolutely classless.

Not sure what a person is supposed to do with the information. If you're another luger and they're saying it was human error and you're like "Well, that other guy was pretty damn good, so what am I supposed to do to avoid the same thing?" it's not helpful information. Technically you could argue human error whenever anybody dies in an extreme sport that isn't directly attributable to equipment error but I can't see how they can ignore course variables. Going into a corner too early or late is quite literally how everybody loses or wins in this sport so it's not like other athletes can say "Oh, well, I'll just be sure to time my corners perfectly".

 

[JJChicken]

Not sure what a person is supposed to do with the information. If you're another luger and they're saying it was human error and you're like "Well, that other guy was pretty damn good, so what am I supposed to do to avoid the same thing?" it's not helpful information. Technically you could argue human error whenever anybody dies in an extreme sport that isn't directly attributable to equipment error but I can't see how they can ignore course variables. Going into a corner too early or late is quite literally how everybody loses or wins in this sport so it's not like other athletes can say "Oh, well, I'll just be sure to time my corners perfectly".

I think they are saying it to avoid any lawsuit. The worst part is, someone died (and I personally think he should not have died with the mistake he made) and they come out and blame the luger. Why the fuck would you put steel posts right next to the track???

So saddened by this horrific accident because it should have been prevented ...