Shameless luge officials blame the victim

WHISTLER, B.C. – The Federation Internationale de Luge (FIL) is acting like someone in a fender-bender. You know, admit nothing, shrug, and blame the other guy.

Apparently without a trace of shame, the world luge governing body, as well as the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC), met the press Saturday morning to blame Nodar Kumaritashvili solely for his own death and to accept zero responsibility themselves for Friday’s fatal crash that killed the 21-year-old Georgian at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Yes, it’s a fast track, but it’s not too fast and it’s not unsafe, luge officials stressed several times at a morning press conference, where they also said all scenarios, including cancelling the entire sliding competition at these Olympic Games, were discussed before they decided to go ahead as scheduled.

They’re trying to revise history as they go here, adamant that the WSC track is completely safe and that Kumaritashvili’s own driving error led to his death, despite a litany of complaints and cautions from the athletes themselves in the weeks and days leading to the Olympics. And even though Kumaritashvili’s death is the first luge fatality in 35 years, “there was nothing out of the ordinary that signalled there needed to be a change made,’’ according to FIL secretary-general Svein Romstad.

Yet they have shortened the men’s race, scheduled to begin later Saturday, to the women’s starting point and they will shorten the women’s start, perhaps down to the junior start point, in a bid to slow down the runaway speeds, which have clearly exceeded what the sliding organization thought would be achieved on the track. They also will raise the walls where the fatal crash occurred in a bid to – hold on for this one – “deal with the emotional component for athletes.’’

They are making all these changes even though the track is completely safe, or as VANOC vice-president for sport Tim Gayda put it, “we did everything in our power to make that a safe track.’’

Except for all the new stuff, apparently.

It sounds as if lawyers drummed into them that they should admit no responsibility whatsoever. German Josef Fendt, FIL president, when asked if legal action had been threatened, answered, “I don’t know.’’

Asked to identify which “emotional’’ components would be addressed by moving the starts down, Romstad of the United States, fighting back tears, said he he didn’t know specifically because “this is a component we have not dealt with before.’’

Played down, as well, were Canadian Olympic Committree boasts for the past several months that Canada was exploiting its “home-field advantage’’ by limiting the training runs allowed by other countries. Gayda said FIL guidelines were followed “and we largely lived up to those obligations and even surpased them’’ by offering enough practice runs.

The FIL pointed out that Kumaritashvili had 26 runs on the track. That he didn’t finish No. 27, they are saying, is solely his fault.

But they’re going to shorten all the races anyway. Out of the goodness of their hearts.

Comments

[Jimbo]

Rule Number One-ADMIT NOTHING

Any suggestion that something might have been less-than-perfect could invite a law$uit. This is standard practise-unfortunately.

[MP Shin]

That's as silly as the big foreign car company saying the "brakes failed because it is the drivers fault". Wondering if each IFL member is willing to back up their claim by going down the same track themselves? Haaaah... didn't think so.

[Sean]

Absolutely right. Let's see, he had 27 runs so did any officials point out to him he was "driving wrong" ? Amazing that he made a driving "mistake" at 144 kph, isn't that what safeguards are there for, seeing as how they know they are pushing to the maximum they can. As you say, it's weird the track is totally safe yet make all these changes. BTW, they said they didn't think those speeds could be reached. I'snt that their job ?

[passerby69]

My sympathies to the families and friends of the luger who died. I don't understand what the point of such a race is. How is hurtling down an icy trail feet first a sport? Attaching the lugers to missiles would also help them improve their speed. But, again, what is the point?

[Steve]

The walls should have been higher in the first place. Coming around that coner and losing control at that speed into those posts is akin to falling into the blades of a speeding blender. There is absolutely nothing safe about that corner. That last section of wall is lower than the hip height of an average sized person. It never should have passed inspection. The upright posts should never have been placed so close to the chute without some form of barrier to protect the rider. I am surprised the supposed officials did not see this long before it cost someone their life.

[dj]

The metal support beams are too close to the track and when someone goes off the track an unlucky soul might hit one, like what happened to the Georgian luger. Move the posts back, or if they can't be moved, cover them with something to absorb the impact of a person hitting them at high speeds and most importantly, shut down the course until it's safe.

[Joe Canadian]

It's like auto racing, if a driver makes an error and crashes, why blame the track? Upon completion of the investigation when all facts are in, if it is deemed that the driver (luger) was at fault (most probably in my opinion), then the officials are correct in stating that it is the driver's (luger's) fault. I am sure the sport of Luge will now be considered one of the most dangerous sports....

[Brian C]

If they are blameless, why did they change the track at turn 16 and now start from the women's start to slow them down.
The blame should be on them to allow someone who appeared to not have the minimum experience or skill on the course to crash twice.

[Michael Sullivan]

Whether such an accident ever happens again; I'd say cushion these metal posts. The video was difficult to watch, but the sound of Nodar's helmet colliding with one of those posts was clear. Whether that's what killed him I don't know.

[Trevor J. Finkle]

This is so typical of times we live in. Blame everyone else, accept no responsibility. Facts are facts. This is sports, no athelete enters expecting to lose their life. He was not a novice. Even if he made a split second error, the design of the track should have been protective - Someone should have thought this through. ie. if we design the tract this way -what is the worst that can happen. Yes. The show must go on - but at what cost? A sad commentary on our times indeed.

[Guy]

Even if it was his driving fault there still should be safety and going that fast next to steel beams is ridiculous. The engineers that designed the track should be charged.

[mmph19@otmail.com]

Just in case, for one second, we thought the games might be about sportsmanship instead of greed, we have been informed otherwise.

[Rob Adair]

It's just another example of the fact that the IOC and FIL really don't care about the athletes, they only care about their own status within the sport, the perks, privileges and sponsorship funds. If VANOC, the IOC and FIL had any integrity or compassion, they would accept responsibility, apologize to the family of the athlete and offer compensation for their loss. Even a pedestrian would question the placement of unpadded steel pillars along the side of the track at the exit of a fast 270 degree turn. I hope the organization that represents Olympic athletes champions the cause. It would be sad for it to require another death to motivate them.

[Eliott B.]

Well said, Mr. Perkins. These self-serving and grossly insensitive "findings" of the FIL could scarcely be believed if they weren't so in keeping with the manner in which the international sporting bureaucracies continue to function.

What is perhaps most offensive is that the FIL is purporting to have made investigative "findings" which are nothing of the sort. Of course the crash was the result of "human error" - such is the result of most sporting accidents, be they on a luge course, half-pipe or skating rink. The issue that needed to be investigated was why a momentary error could so quickly and dramatically result in the death of a professional athlete. The FIL's position makes clear that this was a blunt and sadly transparent attempt to evade responsibility.

[DRW]

Thanks for this Mr Perkins. You've captured my own thoughts quite nicely.

[Sean]

It IS tragic that Nodar lost control in the exact manner that he did. But when 5000 runs have passed without a luger going over that wall, it seems more accurate to call the tragedy a freak accident.

Raising the wall after the last turn in the run really is to put those beams out of the minds of the lugers. Every one of them has already made it through the course without going over.

There have been many crashes, yes. But not the kind that are foreign to other tracks. This one was different, and it is unfair to say that Olympic officials are guilty of not protecting the athletes just because they are taking extra precautionary measures.
The countless successful runs that have taken place on this course suggest that the games could take place without altering the track. But I suspect you would be complaining more if they did nothing.

[clive rayman]

In high risk sports there are calculated risks. At times something may go wrong...the reuslt could be death or injury. That is the nature of the beast. When one decides to participate in such an activity they must accept the consequences. They can always walk away if they feel it's too unsafe.In 1976 Niki Lauda three time F1 World Champion walked away from the Japanese Grand Prix.
Mr. Perkins needs to realise that there was not a deliberate attempt by FIL or the builders of the track to create unnecessary danger.

[Fred]

The "track" itself may be safe, but only if they are talking about the ice. It doesn't take an FIL genius to see that the walls surrounding the track obviously are not safe. And the protective shields to deflect errant sliders back on the track rather than having them fall off the track directly onto steel beams that will surely kill them are not safe - they don't even exist.

[Monte Lorne]

Shouldn't they have tested the track out on monkeys or rats first? How about some IOC officials?

[Don Naduriak]

Interesting.

I had not considered this, and had accepted completely the official response. I guess this is not such a simple story.
Good job.

[E G]

I think it goes without saying that there are dangers involved in a sport such as Luge. These athletes are well aware of the possible outcomes of a crash and they have made the decision to compete despite the possible risks involved with the sport. Sure there are somethings that can be done to improve safety a bit, but nothing is 100%. Common sense should tell you that if you throw yourself down a huge ice slice on a little bitty sled wearing only tights and little helmet, while travelling at speeds in exess of those traveled by automobiles on major highways..YOU ARE GOING TO GET HURT IF YOU CRASH. it doens't take a genius to figure that out.

Why is no one sounding off about the dangers involved in downhill skiing, attacking those sporting associations or perhaps all skiing resorts? I can think of quite a few deaths in that sport. Yet no one is up in arms over them demanding action. How about the dangers of hurtling ones body through the air hundreds of feet as they do in ski jumping?

[Alberto White]

This is a complete mess. I blame Canadian greed (wanting to win medals at any cost) in not allowing other nations' athletes enough training runs, and the idea that building a track that's faster than any other in the world, for no good reason, without making it safe. They can say it's safe all they want, but clearly, a death proves otherwise.

[Highlander]

This is outrageous- blaming victim for this!!!!!!! What would happened if somebody from US died like this guy from some small country??? I would like to ask "experts" who brought this conclusion: is it because organisators are trying to avoid eventual lawsuit??? SHAME ON YOU !!!!!!!!

[Elaine McEwen]

I have read many articles about this tragic accident and never got the impression that the luge offficials acted shamelessly or blamed the victim. Tthe reports I read seemed to me to depict pretty well what happened. Officials are doing their best to make alterations to the track and start the races further down to prevent any further tragedies. Even the other lugers have claimed that it was the athlete's error - which in a fast sport like this doesn't take much.
Trying to "inflame" this tragedy with sensationalism is what is really shameless.

[Gerry Markham]

I think it is wrong that each Olympic organizer, in an effort to collect more performance records, is allowed to create its own version of an Olympic venue. Are there no standards that say that, for instance a luge track may no vertical drop greater than x meters and the terminal speed is limited to y km/hr? Just like an Olympic swimming pool must have certain dimensions, the designers of luge and other like events should hvae certain standards that they must work within. A track has clearly gone beyond the normal bounds when seasoned atheletes are willing to tell their team that they are afraid to go onto a track, and this was before this tragic event.

Another question I have is whether Nodar should have been on the track. In experienced and his father is the President of the Georgian luge association. Makes you think hmmm ...