Georgian Olympic luger dies after crash

APhi4Ever · #1 02-12-2010, 04:52 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/new...v=st&type=lgns

By STEPHEN WILSON AP Sports Writer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia(AP)—A men’s luger from the former Soviet republic of Georgia died Friday after a crash during training, an Olympic official with direct knowledge of the situation said. The death cast a shocking pall over the Vancouver Olympics hours before the opening ceremony.

APhi4Ever · #2 02-12-2010, 04:53 PM

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and with all of those that are competing in the Olympics.

KSUViolet06 · #3 02-12-2010, 05:20 PM

Wow. How sad for his friends/family/teammates (esp. with opening ceremonies tonight).

ForeverRoses · #4 02-12-2010, 05:33 PM

wow. He was only 21.

Benzgirl · #5 02-12-2010, 07:37 PM

RIP.

agzg · #6 02-12-2010, 08:32 PM

This makes me not even as excited about the games as I was.

ETA: I realize that makes me sound so selfish. I meant to say that I'm very very sorry for the Georgian team, his family, and friends in this time, and it's hard to be excited about the opening ceremony after such a tragic death.

epchick · #7 02-13-2010, 10:21 PM

What do you all think of them showing the video of his crash. Do you think it was "too much," in bad taste, or whatever?

Personally, I'm a little divided. One part of me thinks that it was horrible to actually show it. The pictures were enough, but to show all the video of it, was

But another part of me is grateful they showed it--to bring awareness to how dangerous the actual course is.

Honeykiss1974 · #8 02-13-2010, 10:23 PM

I thought it was in VERY bad taste of NBC to show his crash/death. There are plenty of other videos out there that shows how dangerous that course is. I know NBC wanted the ratings, but goodness, did they ever stop to think that this young man's family could be watching?

How horrible to see video of your son's death over and over on the news. My father died a few days before this past Christmas and if his death had been caught on tape, I can not imagine having to relive that moment over and over again on tv.

Gusteau · #9 02-13-2010, 10:24 PM

While I personally didn't think the video was too graphic or in any way visually "too much," I was shocked that they showed it on TV. Showing someone's death on TV just doesn't sit well with me.

Kappamd · #10 02-13-2010, 11:14 PM

I think NBC realized that they screwed up. They said a few minutes ago that the video would not be shown again during this Olympics.

LucyKKG · #11 02-13-2010, 11:39 PM

NBC showed the video during one newscast but not during the next. I saw more of the video as well as the actual impact at 5 o'clock, I think, but they edited it at 6.

AGDee · #12 02-14-2010, 12:32 AM

They showed it more than once on the Today show this morning. I thought it was in poor taste.

Leslie Anne · #13 02-14-2010, 12:42 AM

I think it's awful that they showed it. The only reason to show it is to shock and "entertain" people. Very poor taste!

tri deezy · #14 02-14-2010, 05:34 PM

I was incredibly upset that they showed it. And without warning! I was watching coverage with some of my neighbors and all of a sudden there it was! No warning or disclaimer or "your children may want to leave the room..." nothing. I was so upset. Are we really that desensitized that they think it's normal to show death? I felt like I was tricked into watching it. It took me a moment to realize what I'd just seen. I immediately though of how horrifying this must be for his family. Can you imagine? I'm sure they traveled to Canada to watch him in the Olympics and now the whole world is privy to their son's last moments of life? Completely inappropriate.