Olympic tragedy could have been avoided

By now, many if not all have heard about the tragedy that struck the Winter Olympics in Vancouver during the final practice run of Georgian Olympic Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. The luger was killed when he was thrown from his sled coming through the final turn of a practice run at an estimated 88+ MPH. The tragic accident came just hours before the games were to officially begin with opening ceremonies this evening.

Living in the age that we do, we are often provided unprecedented access to news stories as they break, and often in the form of streaming video and still-pictures of the events. This circumstance is no different. After seeing the video of the occurrence aired on NBC this evening, it's hard not to think aloud that this certainly could've and should've been avoided.

The luger was thrown from his sled as he came around the final turn, moving at inhuman speeds, totally exposed. The track itself has a reputation as the fastest in history and the speed records to back up the claim. Nodar himself was ranked very low as a luger in the world rankings, and the track had already thrown some of the best riders in the world from their sleds.

It doesn't take a neurosurgeon to add the sums of those parts and come up with the recipe for disaster that exists with this particular track. It could have been avoided if the committee had demanded that the protective barrier that helps keep athletes from being thrown clear of the sledding surface be raised to a suitable level. Raising the level of the barrier would have had no residual effects on the sport itself, and in this case would probably have saved the life of an Olympic athlete.

Now, it should be noted that on the best of days the sport of luge remains one of the most dangerous sports in the civilized world. That, however, seems to not be the underlying factor in an episode that clearly could have been avoided. when the luger was thrown clear of the protective barrier, he struck a support pole and was knocked unconscious. Clearly, somewhere along in the development process somebody should have taken a hard look at that final turn and assessed a danger threat that clearly exists with this track!

Fans of the sporting event, family members of the victim and the general population should be outraged that an incident of this magnitude could still occur in this day and age. This is not the wild, wild west of sporting competition; This isn't the Roman Colosseum. The Olympic Committee has a duty and a responsibility to all the athletes it governs to keep those athletes safe. It's day-1 stuff people!

It remains to be seen if the Olympic Committee will step up and do what is right. Will they take the necessary measures to insure that a tragedy of this magnitude will not happen again, at these Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, or ever again in any future Olympics.

'Tis a sad day in the sporting world this February 12, 2010

Olympic Luge