US announces Downhill team after final training run cancelled
The American team have announced that their four man team to contest the Olympic Downhill race on Saturday will be Bode Miller, Andrew Weibrecht, Marco Sullivan and Steve Nyman. Nyman had been contesting the final slot with young hopeful Erk Fisher. Nyman has taken the slot over the youthful Fisher after the final training run yesterday.With no training possible on Friday due to the warm air and soft conditions, the fact that all the racers competed in the third run on Thursday means that the race can go ahead, weather permitting, on Saturday. This is the plan yet the majority of racers believe that Monday will be the earliest possible. With the girls training also cancelled, the backlog of training runs and races is starting to mount up. Talk is now of maybe running a training run before the men's race on Saturday but according to Emily Brydon "it would be quite right that the men get priority."
The Olympic movement was shocked to have a fatality to deal with in the Luge. A 21 year old Georgean athlete came off the track and sadly has passed away from his injuries. The IOC are conducting an inquiry and will report as soon as they can. Already questions are being asked as to why an inexperienced athlete was allowed to race when he had only competed in two World Cup events; others are asking why the Canadians had been able to put in over 300 runs down the track and other nations not one. Now is not a time for recriminations but a time for mourning.
Statement from the British Olympic Association following the tragic loss of Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili in a training accident at Whistler Sliding Centre today: "We offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and team-mates of Nodar Kumaritashvili and the entire delegation from Georgia. It is our hope that, during this most difficult hour, they find strength through the friendship and support of the worldwide Olympic family."
Statement from Team GB luge athlete AJ Rosen: "As with most sports, we are a family in luge, so a sudden and tragic loss such as this impacts everyone deeply.
"As athletes, we know that the international federation, the IOC and VANOC have no higher priority than ensuring our safety, on and off the field of play. I know they are looking into this and, should it be deemed necessary for them to introduce additional measures, they will do so.
"Right now, my thoughts and prayers are with Nodar’s family, friends and team-mates."
