Just a terrible, unfortunate accident, Mike. These things happen. I hope the Georgian team hangs in there.

>Talk about taking the shine out of the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics.
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>http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/luge/news/story?id=4909034
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>Despite my occasional good natured swipes at the many Canadian members here, I happen to like Canada a lot. My wishes have been with them that these Olympic games put a well deserved positive spotlight on Canada and the city of Vancouver. Here's hoping that still proves to be the case. We already know the host city is probably going to take a financial bath, as usual, along with NBC, which has been predicting losses of $200 million. When they won the bid no one knew the world economy was going to go splat. And now this.
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>There are two phrases in the linked news story that caught my eye, neither in a good way.
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>1. Rogge said an investigation is under way but would not comment further on the accident's implications for the luge competition. Georgia's Olympic committee was deciding whether to remain in the Games, Rogge added.
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>"It is a time of sorrow, not a time to ask for reasons,'' he said.
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>If that doesn't epitomize the money-first attitude of the arrogant doddering dictators of the IOC, I don't know what would. The show must go on! All is well!
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>2. Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over the track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center.
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>Unpadded? That doesn't sound good at all. Was this just the odds coming up short in a sport which anyone can see is dangerous by its nature? Or should someone have thought to wrap that pole in some kind of protective covering? Heck, they have done that in every volleyball gym I have ever been in, and those players are not flying like lugers.
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>Not making a point or putting a finger on the scale. Just uncertain about my own reaction and wondering what others think.