REVscene Automotive Forum - Official Vancouver 2010 Olympics Thread

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I wonder when the news will announce his passing away?
Seems like everyone over the web knows, but they didn't announce it over CTV yet. All they said was it was "life threatening injuries".

I guess they'll do it later so it doesn't spoil the torch run?
RIP.

You guys should have heard it when they showed the crash.

We have LCD TVs all over the office and the entire place went "OHHHHHHHHH!!!" at the same time when he hit the pole...that's a couple hundred people saying it at the same time. It was loud and the guy was so young. Such a tragedy.

Quote:

German International Olympic Committee official Thomas Bach later confirmed Kumaritashvili had died as a result of his injuries.

The track at Whistler, which is shared by the sports of luge, skeleton and bobsleigh, already has a reputation as one of the fastest - and most dangerous - in the world.

In the build-up to the Games several teams had raised concerns about the safety of athletes, who regularly exceed 90mph as they compete.

Before Kumaritashvili's crash, British skeleton slider Amy Williams told BBC Sport: "I just hope Whistler is safe and that there aren't too many crashes and serious injuries."

Australia's Hannah Campbell-Pegg added: "I think they are pushing it a little too much.

"To what extent are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean, this is our lives."

Their comments followed earlier accidents, including one involving gold medal favourite Armin Zoeggeler of Italy and several during women's luge training runs on Wednesday.

Among those to crash was Romania's Violeta Stramaturaru, who was knocked unconscious for a few minutes and taken to hospital.

British skeleton's performance director, Andi Schmid, said a lack of track time for athletes in the run-up to the Games had increased the risk of accidents.

"I would say especially for speed sports you need to have more access to tracks and whoever organises the Olympics needs to offer that," said Schmid during preparations for the Games.

"Not only so that everyone has a fair chance but also because of the danger. We need to be careful so that these sports stay great action sports and don't become dangerous killer sports.

"I'm not saying that will happen but some athletes from other nations are less experienced."

Kumaritashvili competed in five World Cup races this season, finishing 44th in the world standings.

Members of the International Luge Federation were asked to attend a briefing following the crash, and team captains from each nation attended an emergency meeting.

Prior to the Vancouver Games, no Winter Olympic athlete had been killed during an event.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olym...ge/8513595.stm

youtube already taken down all videos

rip indeed.

I can't believe they have uncovered metal poles there. You can actually hear the metal ringing.

In motorsport, from auto-x to f1 you sure as hell do your best to insure that you design the track in such a way to avoid hitting things like this.

*edit* according to wikipedia, this is the first death in the history of the winter olympics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wormiez (Post 6813645)

Pictures here - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_460474.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armind (Post 6813679)

Shit.. that gave me shivers =\ RIP

shit... :cry: those pictures are extremely graphic

So young...RIP :( :(

RIP :(

CTV had a luge expert or analysis on saying the Georgian Luger was inexperienced. They will probably add a higher barrier at that turn. Global TV said they might shorten the track.

On a side note a non official world record was set at the luge track of 153km/h by an Austrian Luger yesterday.

thats fucking stupid that they have posts to support an over-head cover right there.. why wouldnt you have them like 10 feet back?

although at those speeds even if he hit pavement he probably would have died.

RIP, what a shitty way to start the event. Hope the injuries/deaths stop there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondaracer (Post 6813703)

It doesn't matter where they are. He was going an estimated 144KPH. Crash at that speed with little or no protection and you're not going to make it.

Wow, just saw those pictures. It looks like his ear got ripped off...

RIP heard it on the radio when i was driving, he was only 21...

Rip to the Georgian.

I herd another luge competitor set an unofficial record of 154 km/h and he says he could ad a few more km's to that.

I wonder if they will add a moment of silence remembrance during the opening ceremonies...

Heard the whole Georgian Olympic team may be pulling out the games after this.

bah :( better safety precautions should have been taken after the initial crashes that happened on that track

Georgia might pull out of Olympics after his death according to Reuters

RIP to this guy.

I can now imagine all of the naysayers using this incident and starting another track of anti-Olympic rants.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronin (Post 6813705)

In the videos (not sure if they're available any more), something flew off when he hit the pole. Dunno what though.

He hit the side hard and flipped. His sled wasn't faulty. Inexperience and on a really fast track.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby (Post 6813729)

In the videos (not sure if they're available any more), something flew off when he hit the pole. Dunno what though.

They're not, but the news article I was reading said his visor came off and went skidding down the ice after he hit.

here are some pics i took

Ford GT

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...6/IMG_3725.jpg

Quebec house:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...6/IMG_3729.jpg

Slightly zoomed out pic of Quebec house:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...6/IMG_3730.jpg

BC Place:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...6/IMG_3732.jpg

Btw, Russia house is open to the public today for free (Science World)

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...6/IMG_3734.jpg

vid of the accident (youtube version pulled already)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/akdobbins/no...ili-luge-crash

Going to be there!! russia! =)

It's practically going to be epic.

RIP. sigh so sad,
I really hope they add a moment of silence for the georgian.

holly fuck, what a terrible way to start off...

i cringed after seeing the video.. RIP to him... soo young :(