Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:53 pm

RallyMonkey wrote:
I think a World Cup of Hockey would be awesome and I would watch that for sure. This just ain't it.

Yes, I agree its not the same as the world cup but its as close as we are ever going to get....I am really looking forward to it.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:36 pm

A Georgia luger was killed today during a practice run.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancou ... oly,219382

RallyMonkey · Post by **RallyMonkey** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:54 pm

A Georgia luger was killed today during a practice run.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancou ... n=oly,2193

I was unlucky enough to come across the video after hearing of the crash but not knowing the severity. I wish I hadn't watched it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 4:55 pm

Plus the women's downhill has been postponed, according to MSNBC.com. Not sure of the reason. Weather, probably?

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:11 pm

Now being reported that a Georgian luger has been killed in practice - came off at 90 km/h and hit a concrete pole.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 513595.stm

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:17 pm

davet010 wrote:Now being reported that a Georgian luger has been killed in practice - came off at 90 km/h and hit a concrete pole.

OMG that's tragic.

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:38 pm

Rodster wrote:
davet010 wrote:Now being reported that a Georgian luger has been killed in practice - came off at 90 km/h and hit a concrete pole.

OMG that's tragic.

If you guys want video....NSFW though

http://deadspin.com/5470753/tracks-safe ... atal-crash

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:00 pm

The claim from Vancouver is he was traveling at 140 km/h, sh*t.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:03 pm

Jesus, the speed he hit those poles with is unbelievable. How the hell do you build a track like that!? He had no chance coming out of that corner.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:03 pm

It sure appears the dude was gone instantly, which is a blessing.

RIP to the luger and condolences to his family and teammates. Such a tragic way to open the Games.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:05 pm

Diablo25 wrote:Jesus, the speed he hit those poles with is unbelievable. How the hell do you build a tack like that!?

My wife said the same thing. That would be like putting exposed poles at the edge of a fence at a motor racing track. Unthinkable in current motorsports, so why is it allowed in luge, a high-speed sport in which the competitor has little or no protection?

Zlax45 · Post by **Zlax45** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:06 pm

My question is how dangerous is skeleton going to be in this Olympics?

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:10 pm

Diablo25 wrote:Jesus, the speed he hit those poles with is unbelievable. How the hell do you build a track like that!? He had no chance coming out of that corner.

I hope this event doesn't turn into Imola 1994. Too many bad signs to continue with this event. They either need to move it to another track or cancel the event before someone else gets badly hurt or even worse dies. Another Luger was knocked unconscious.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:12 pm

Rodster wrote:
Diablo25 wrote:Jesus, the speed he hit those poles with is unbelievable. How the hell do you build a track like that!? He had no chance coming out of that corner.
I hope this event doesn't turn into Imola 1994. Too many bad signs to continue with this event. They either need to move it to another track or cancel the event before someone else gets badly hurt or even worse dies. Another Luger was knocked unconscious.

If I am a luger at the games I would refuse to race on that track. No way, no how.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:24 pm

This is the third incident at the luge course already. I would think there will be even more when these guys and gals are in the main competition, really pushing the limits. I agree that the course is horribly designed. Even if they put lots of padding on the posts it would do no good since going 70-90 mph into that area with no protection is going to be lethal. Perhaps they could put some kind of massive foam pieces together blocking the entire areas where a competitor could be hurled over the walls and thrown into beams. I am hoping this was nothing more than a freak occurrence that won't be replicated, but if it isn't it's going to raise a hellstorm of criticism that dwarfs what's already being said.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:36 pm

Exactly, Toon. Padding those steel bars will be like wearing a newspaper as a flak jacket against a pistol shot to the abdomen from 5 feet.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a slider boycott if IOC officials insist the competition must take place. Sadly, we've already seen this is a matter of life and death.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 6:54 pm

Just saw the video and i'll be damned it pissed me off. That track is outright f**king dangerous. On a freaking high speed corner they have metal pillars. The guy didn't stand a chance. He hit the metal beam with his head.

I say shut down the motherf**king event.

http://rs651.rapidshare.com/files/34979 ... _Crash.mov

edit: At point of impact he was traveling at 144.3 km/h, damn.

Feanor · Post by **Feanor** » Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:20 pm

If they don't cancel the Luge, what if this happens again when millions of people are watching it live?

What a depressing way to start the games.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:42 am

Feanor wrote:If they don't cancel the Luge, what if this happens again when millions of people are watching it live?

What a depressing way to start the games.

Indeed. Very sad. I doubt the IOC will have the guts to cancel the Luge event although an investigation is currently under way. I've seen sleds fly away from the track in the past but never a human being thrown out with such a force like that. Nodar was ranked in the early forty's in the world and was traveling at around 144 KM per hour. Apparently the top 10 dudes in the Sport are supposed to have reached around 150 Km/hour.

It's a very fast track, and a life is just too precious just for the sake of beating Olympics records.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:49 am

On a positive note, my highlight of the openings was watching 'the Great One' lit the big Olympic Cauldron in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:12 am

Maybe they could have spent less time wooing gretzky into lighting the torch and more time testing the friggin bob sled track.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:18 am

He didn't light it. In typical socialist form, they let a bunch of them light it at the same time. Cant let one person have the glory.

By the way NBC, what the feck does Haiti have to do with the Winter Olympics.

toonarmy · Post by **toonarmy** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:39 am

fsquid wrote:He didn't light it. In typical socialist form, they let a bunch of them light it at the same time. Cant let one person have the glory.

By the way NBC, what the feck does Haiti have to do with the Winter Olympics.

Wrong. He was the ONLY one who lit the official cauldron. The indoor cauldron was nothing more than a ceremonial one. The outdoor one is the one that Gretzky lit on his own and is considered official. Not sure how socialism has anything to do with honoring some of Canada's revered citizens by letting them take part in a ceremonial lighting of an unofficial cauldron. As far as Haiti, the Olympics are organized to promote peace and understanding among countries. Haiti just lost over 200,000 people in a tragedy, therefore it is in the Olympic spirit to recognize that loss.

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:13 am

Media is reporting that track has been declared
safe and that crash was due to Luger being off
line into the turn. Apparently there will be some
minor changes to the ice profile.

Not surprising unfortunately as I didn't expect much
more of a response. I don't think they should cancel
the luge but it would have been nice if they'd paid more
attention to safety in the design phase. There was an interview
replayed on CBC radio from 6 months ago with
the person in charge of the run and
he downplayed any safety issues. The entire focus seemed to
be on creating the fastest track possible. Well that worked out
well.

Best wishes,

Doug

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:56 am

Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones should be embarrassed about their new rendition of the song. Where the hell has all the musical talent gone? Jesus christ...what the hell was that?