http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/luge/story/2010/02/12/spo-luge-georgian-alert...
I'm not even sure what to say, accept that this is horrific and incredibly upsetting... how many millions for these events and they haven't even made them safe?
Death at the Olympics
Fri, 2010-02-12 15:36
#1
Death at the Olympics
Fri, 2010-02-12 15:39
#2
I think the worst part of it is that VANOC knew the run was dangerous, and organizers promised to ensure a run this fast and steep wouldn't occur at games in the future...
Fri, 2010-02-12 15:56
#3
N.Beltov
Brutal. Condolences to his family, friends and team.
Are athletes becoming modern gladiators? Is this the beginning of the wheels coming off these Surveillance Games? Will opponents of the Games be somehow BLAMED for the luger's death? Does this make one confirmed in not wanting to watch or be a part of these Games?
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:00
#4
N.Beltov
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:00
#5
i'd like to know the answers to all of those questions thats for sure. I for one never supported the games, but always supported the athletes, this is horrific and really justifies protesting the games to me
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:02
#6
there is to be a press conference in like 30 mins
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:10
#7
RIP. Re this death on the 'Thunderbird' Course, another competitor said:
"I think they're pushing it ...Australia's Hannah Campbell Pegg said Thursday night after she nearly lost control in training. To what extend are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean - this is our lives!" (CBC comments)
Watch for heavy duty corporate media damage control on this story
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:25
#8
I saw that, about 12 people have been injured, including very experienced atheltes, and yet the news is like oh well he was "inexperienced" and only a "part-time" luger, and that the run hasnt been open much so there hasnt been enough practice....
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:31
#9
I'm far more concerned about regular deaths of skiers and snowmobilers around Canada, in situations where regulation and enforcement could save lives, than about incidents like these. Surely there are any number of Olympic sports where a wrong step can mean severe injury or death. Unless it is shown that the course was negligently or improperly maintained, then I think we have to chalk this up to a statistic in a risky endeavour.
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:32
#10
"When I first got on this track, I thought that somebody was going to kill themselves.." US Luger Tony Benshoof to NBC news
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:42
#11
Did Benshoof say that before or after this terrible incident? If he said it only after, then he's complicit, isn't he?
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:48
#12
Before
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:53
#13
not to mention he hit a metal pole, after becoming airbourne over a wall that is clearly too low. I think that maybe the sport needs to consider new safety precautions for these tracks.
I agree that skiing and snowmobiling accidents are a serious problem, but my point here is that this is beyond ridiculous, you expect a certain degree of safety at the olympics if you are an athlete. Plus the track was known to be too fast and too steep, and was closed so there has been no access for practice. this defintiely puts some onus onto vanoc and the ioc i think
Fri, 2010-02-12 16:55
#14
Then the provincial authorities should shut the damned place down until it can be certified as safe. What a farce these Olympics are, sacrificing young people for money-grubbing entrepeneurs.
Fri, 2010-02-12 18:45
#15
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
Fri, 2010-02-12 19:14
#16
i'd like to know the answers to all of those questions thats for sure. I for one never supported the games, but always supported the athletes, this is horrific and really justifies protesting the games to me
I never supported the games OR the athletes.
But it is awful that this person died.
Fri, 2010-02-12 19:22
#17
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
This man dying is a sign from your creator??
Lovely. While he/she is smiting tresspassers he/she should take a look at unemployment, substence abuse and poverty.
Fri, 2010-02-12 19:22
#18
Sven
Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
The "Creator" of what?
Fri, 2010-02-12 19:23
#19
Sven
What's puzzling to me is that the designers had those exposed (and unpadded) steel beams along the run.
Fri, 2010-02-12 19:29
#20
Boom Boom
CTV and CBC both reported that the Luge competitors, IOC, and VANOC are in emergency meetings to see what to do. IMO they either have to dismantle the track altogether (unlikely), slow it down somehow, or find another venue (impossible).
Fri, 2010-02-12 20:03
#21
Olympic tragedy: Death porn or sharing the news?
Traditional and social media air death video from Whistler luge track
http://www.vancouversun.com/Olympic+tragedy+Death+porn+sharing+news/2557...
Fri, 2010-02-12 20:10
#22
All in all this is looking like a bad omen ...first Mr republican steroid man runs with the torch..now a luger dies from a track where competitors feel they are guinea pig crash test dummies...what's next?
Fri, 2010-02-12 20:42
#23
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
Would you be happy if he was just paralyzed or permanently brain damaged? He was an athlete representing his Country, which was not Canada. He did not come to Canada expecting to die on your alleged stolen land. Maybe it was stolen, I do not know. He probably was not aware that this land is a contentious issue with this community. This post of yours is probably one of the sickest examples of showboating for a cause I've ever witnessed.
I would tell you to go FUCK yourself, however it appears by your words, you already have.
Fri, 2010-02-12 20:58
#24
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
One, flagging this.
Two, this may be the most prickish thing I've head in a long, long time.
Fri, 2010-02-12 21:01
#25
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
How much if this crap is acceptable around here? This is the sort of statement that if posted elsewhere by a white person the vast majority of you would rage against. BTW, it isn't you're fucking land, and you're never going to get it back, there, hows that for respectful, then again, I could have wished you dead, or maybe i'll just wait until you die in an accident and then say good on ya.
Disgusting
Fri, 2010-02-12 21:16
#26
Polly B
Dick Pound, Canada's senior IOC member, told CBC News: "The Games go on with a little bit of a cloud and sorrow. And I think what to do in luge is analyze this and say, 'Are we making the tracks too demanding for athletes or is it one of these things that, because there's a high risk in a lot of these winter sports, it was just not his day?"
Well, okay then. Apparently, maybe it wasn't his day.
http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/luge/story/2010/02/12/spo-luge-georgian-alert.html
Fri, 2010-02-12 21:40
#27
It is obvious to anyone who views the footage, that the course itself is an outrageously designed deathtrap. Not only too fast but the lack of protection preventing flying lugers from smashing into those metal pillars is beyond belief. They surely can't be planning on endangering more lives on it? As for Pound - he's a Dick.
Fri, 2010-02-12 22:26
#28
Hopefully those metal pillars will now be padded before there is any possibility of a repeat situation.
By-the-way the opening ceremonies are a wonderful expression of appreciation for our First Nations peoples overshadowing everything else at least so far.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:13
#29
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
How much if this crap is acceptable around here? This is the sort of statement that if posted elsewhere by a white person the vast majority of you would rage against. BTW, it isn't you're fucking land, and you're never going to get it back, there, hows that for respectful, then again, I could have wished you dead, or maybe i'll just wait until you die in an accident and then say good on ya.
Disgusting
If it was posted by a white person they would be banned. E.Tamaran is a PoC and therefore can get away with saying practically anything here he wants. I'm a person of colour too and quite frankly I'm embarassed by that double standard.
I remember him saying "Good 4 less pigs" when 4 parents including a woman (who also happen to be police officers) were killed. The only thing I remember hearing was basically "I wonder if we should do anythng about that comment" from the moderators.
When I hear comments like his I think of all the excuses for racisim and gay bashing. Those good ol'boys killed that homo because god made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. My God is a White God blah blah blah.
Know who's God also kills people as a warning? westboro aptish church.
The dead olympic athlete's people were in BC before yours were, E.Taraman.
I'm with you Yarg it's a disgusting comment.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:25
#30
He was on stolen land and basically trespassing. I'm not saying he deserved to die but really if he had respected the territory then this would never have happened. Maybe this is a sign from the Creator to leave asap.
How much if this crap is acceptable around here? This is the sort of statement that if posted elsewhere by a white person the vast majority of you would rage against. BTW, it isn't you're fucking land, and you're never going to get it back, there, hows that for respectful, then again, I could have wished you dead, or maybe i'll just wait until you die in an accident and then say good on ya.
Disgusting
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:30
#31
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Not to detract from your points, which are a whole separate issue, but how is it acceptable for you to be a complete dickhead about today's events upstream in this thread? You basically asserted that this guy's death was some sort of karmic retribution for him being on stolen land. You really come across as an ass on this one, and I think you should apologize.
It is possible to protest the Olympics and have something valid to say about native land claims without coming across as a massive tool.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:34
#32
To who? The settlers on our stolen land? I should apologize to them? Not likely. Settlers come to the olympics on stolen land and then get hurt because other settlers designed the track unsafely! If everybody had respected the native land claims none of this would have happened. Can't you see that?! That's why people get upset when settlers build houses in the occupied territories of palestine. Why don't you get upset the same way when it happens in canada?! Oh right cause we're just natives I forgot!!!
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:41
#33
To who? The settlers on our stolen land? I should apologize to them? Not likely. Settlers come to the olympics on stolen land and then get hurt because other settlers designed the track unsafely! If everybody had respected the native land claims none of this would have happened. Can't you see that?! That's why people get upset when settlers build houses in the occupied territories of palestine. Why don't you get upset the same way when it happens in canada?! Oh right cause we're just natives I forgot!!!
(sigh)
Look. I'm not going to tell you how pissed off you should or shouldn't be over the Olympics, land claims, or what have you. Lord knows, I'm just a "settler", so I want to be very, very clear - I am not in any way commenting on any of those issues.
What I'm saying, and what I sincerely hope you get called on, is that despite your anger over land claims and native issues, saying that Nodar Kumaritashvili's death is any kind of divine retribution on the part of a Creator over land claims issues was a dickheaded thing to say, however valid your points may otherwise be. And the proper thing to do, when one says something that makes one look like a complete asshole, is to apologize.
So, ball's in your court. Apologize, or don't. You really don't come across looking like a great human being if you don't, but that's just one guy's opinion.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:47
#34
RevolutionPlease
Land claims, or what have you, says it all.
E. Tam, it's not a good way to get a point across but in no way will I back down, the responses were more reprehensible. E. Tam., could you try to dial it back? Just asking nicely.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:50
#35
Le T
Steve Biko once wrote that white people kick black people and then tell them how they should react to being kicked. The extreme racism by the usual racists in this thread is a great example of that.
Just because you find E.T's remarks assholish does not give you the right to blab the racist shit that is just waiting for an excuse to come out.
Also, Harriet Nahanee was the fist death of this Olympics. I'm not suprised that the angry lynch mob trying to make this native pay for his bad words were nowhere to be found for those RIPs.
Fri, 2010-02-12 23:54
#36
Also, Harriet Nahanee was the fist death of this Olympics. I'm not suprised that the angry lynch mob trying to make this native pay for his bad words were nowhere to be found for those RIPs.
If E. Tamaran had been spewing that over Harriet Nahanee, then I'd call him an asshole for that, too.
I'm not commenting on the politics. All I'm saying is that what E. Tamaran said is prime grade insensitive assholery, and that'd stand no matter who he was, or who he was talking about.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:04
#37
RevolutionPlease
You need some sensitivity training rabelais.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:05
#38
Look. I'm not going to tell you how pissed off you should or shouldn't be over the Olympics, land claims, or what have you. Lord knows, I'm just a "settler", so I want to be very, very clear - I am not in any way commenting on any of those issues.
What I'm saying, and what I sincerely hope you get called on, is that despite your anger over land claims and native issues, saying that Nodar Kumaritashvili's death is any kind of divine retribution on the part of a Creator over land claims issues was a dickheaded thing to say, however valid your points may otherwise be. And the proper thing to do, when one says something that makes one look like a complete asshole, is to apologize.
So, ball's in your court. Apologize, or don't. You really don't come across looking like a great human being if you don't, but that's just one guy's opinion.
Moderators!! Another racist post!!! Making light of the loss and theft of traditional territories. Yarg and Rabelais are making racist comments about FNs!!
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:06
#39
You need some sensitivity training rabelais.
Tamaran says that the Georgian luger died because he trespassed on stolen land and that he basically deserved it, and I'm the one that needs sensitivity training. All-right-y then.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:09
#40
RevolutionPlease
You need some sensitivity training rabelais.
Tamaran says that the Georgian luger died because he trespassed on stolen land and that he basically deserved it, and I'm the one that needs sensitivity training. All-right-y then.
Why are you on babble? Don't you get it?
OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:11
#41
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Too funny.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:11
#42
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Too funny.
Moderators!! More hate.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:13
#43
Why are you on babble? Don't you get it?
OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND.
Why stop at the olympics? What about anyone murdered on stolen land. Women, blacks asians? Had it coming too?
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:14
#44
RevolutionPlease
What I'm saying, and what I sincerely hope you get called on, is that despite your anger over land claims and native issues, saying that Nodar Kumaritashvili's death is any kind of divine retribution on the part of a Creator over land claims issues was a dickheaded thing to say, however valid your points may otherwise be.
Despite your anger over land claims........
I don't see it. Imagine you have a really nice piece of land. And someone takes it away from you and throws the mother of all parties on it. Kicks your family out, tears up the place, leaves garbage laying about, destroys the furniture...
Then in mid party, they trip over their own dicks and break a leg. Maybe I would feel that it might have been what was coming to them.
Just saying.
Please fix the post Polly B, I believe your quotes are misquoted.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:16
#45
RevolutionPlease
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Too funny.
Moderators!! More hate.
Seriously, dial it back, I've flagged most of these posts. Are you doing that or just engaging in more publiic flogging.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:18
#46
Sven
E.Tamaran's comment reminds me of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson musing that civil liberties groups, feminists, pagans, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters were partially responsible for the 9/11 attacks -- because they had made the Lord Gawd Almighty angry with America.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:19
#47
Why are you on babble? Don't you get it?
OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND.
The luger didn't steal it. I'd get the hubris if something happend to a VANOC organizer, perhaps - wouldn't agree with it, but get it - but why the perverse schadenfreude over a Georgian luger who has nothing to do with Canadian - First Nation politics?
And assholes can have legitimate views on the politics of the Olympics, or on the land question, but that doesn't mean they aren't assholes. Tamaran's comments pretty much speak for themselves on that front.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:20
#48
Moderators!!! Is it acceptable for settlers to claim FN land isn't really ours, and that we'll never get it back?! How the FUCK can this sort of hate can ever be acceptable?!
Too funny.
Moderators!! More hate.
LOL
It's like the world is out to get you. UNACCEPTABLE!
Sorry E.Taraman I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for you considering the types of comments you're known for. You're acting like a baby. You made a very ugly comment which is below you because you are better than that but insead of owning up to it you turn it around and try to play the victim.
Don't we have enough people in this world blaming deaths of others on some silly sort of divine retribution? Yes yes we do.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:20
#49
RevolutionPlease
Glad to hear you have someone to cheer on the left Sven.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:21
#50
RevolutionPlease
Tamaran says that the Georgian luger died because he trespassed on stolen land and that he basically deserved it, and I'm the one that needs sensitivity training. All-right-y then.
Why are you on babble? Don't you get it?
OLYMPICS ON STOLEN LAND.
The luger didn't steal it. I'd get the hubris if something happend to a VANOC organizer, perhaps - wouldn't agree with it, but get it - but why the perverse schadenfreude over a Georgian luger who has nothing to do with Canadian - First Nation politics?
And assholes can have legitimate views on the politics of the Olympics, or on the land question, but that doesn't mean they aren't assholes. Tamaran's comments pretty much speak for themselves on that front.
Learn to quote.
Sat, 2010-02-13 00:21
#51
The sad fate of the luger is all about physics, and bad design. Now I'll consume some tobacco.
E.Tamaran, First Nations treaties, hundreds of them, have been dishonoured by our government.
Those who campaign for the rights of people done wrong are not haters, and your belief that they are is disturbing.