el_richo

Not necessarily. The Isle of Man TT has remained unchanged for the most of its 100+ years of existence. People tend to be killed every year, including some of the high calibre racers.

Safety is great to a point but once the element of danger and the opportunity for the spectator to see a crash diminishes, the sport can lose viewers thus risk revenue reduction (take F1 for example).

All sport with an element of speed and/or physical contact is dangerous and people who partake in sports know the consequences. There is only so much nannying an organisation can do to limit incidents but to eliminate them is impossible.

Should motorcycle road racing be banned or events cancelled due to the danger to the rider AND spectator? No of course not. The luge fraternity knew the dangers and they and the organisers can mitigate to a point but ultimately the participant makes his choice and lives (or dies) by it. As sad as it may be, life goes on and i would be very suprised if anybody on this forum or even in Canada can recall this Georgian guys name in a few months time.

As for the media. Sensationalism and shock value sells. The death of this guy offers both due to the high profile event and its perceived safety. People who read this tat and take it onboard without seeing through it are dickheads.

Examples of a dangerous sport for the participant and spectator:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jutP6CUpKj4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmtoOmq3ppw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtjQ4SK4GXk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nzq2GorVH4 (35 secs in)

You don't often see media coverage like this most years after a death because it doesn't have the right ingredients.

Almost Canadian

I agree

JonboyE

Several people, in BC alone, die every year participating in winter sports.

JonboyE

In this case I can see with my own eyes.

The conclusion I reach, given the disparity between the UK media reports and what I see on the ground here, is that I cannot trust the UK media to provide objective reporting.

Bali2010

Yes, with two other articles I've read since on reporting views (& pardon my ignorance here, but some sport people who's names I forget) of the track being seen as safe, so at least not one perspective only.

Well that is the eyecatching headline - the article ends with a more balanced tone:
Most worryingly of all for the organisers in Vancouver, Vanoc has failed to quell the growing sense that the 2010 ­Winter ­Olympics will be remembered as ­something substantially less than a triumph., which I have to say is not really unfair (IMO) given a death on the games, which doesn't happen at each games.

EDIT:
Links to other articles mentioned above (in case anyone wants them):

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...inter-olympics
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...clive-woodward

GavinR

That's not exactly new news, since when have they been objective? Reporting the news in favour of sensationalism went out in the UK a long time ago.

dboy

Not sure I said anything about hating the UK, other than expressing frustration with London-centricism. And no I;m not trolling the web for brit media articles. I pulled them of a blog re the games and one bit was international media views - there are many - Brits are being overly critical. I could have also posted comments by NBC and the New York Times, but this is after all a Brit Expat discussion site - or hadn't you noticed?

Oink

I noticed that even on the BBC site, they seemed to be overly dramatic when it came to reporting the problems the Games have had. I was surprised by that.

Elizabeth I

I really hope for London and Britain's sake that everything goes perfectly in 2012, and that these media reports overly criticising Vancouver don't come back to haunt them if the boot should be on other foot...

Jingsamichty

I'm sure there are elements within the London 2012 organisation who would be delighted if Vancouver 2010 is remembered as a fiasco. Easier to look good then.

Elizabeth I

yup, there's a strategy going on for sure...

dboy

Perhaps. I think major events like the games are prone to problems. You can't dump however many thousands of people in the city using infrastructure and transit designed for way less and not expect issues.

I don't doubt all the games have had issues. I think it's the overall impression that counts in the end and we are still are writing this one. Looks as though the weather will be better the next week or so and hope that we have seen the end of the issues, although I doubt it.

Funny thing is I'm actually against the games (not the athletes) but got caught up in the positivity here which is truly intoxicating - now, ironically, I'm trying to stay upbeat. At the end of the day, Vancouver was a wonderful place before the games and it still will be after.

Oink

Unfortunately I think you’re right there.

Of course Vancouver has had some problems but a bit of balance and perspective in the reporting wouldn't be bad. I don’t think the Olympics seem to be an area that it is common. It’s all rah rah rah or doom doom doom.

Elizabeth I

Which is why I'm wondering how London is going to cope. I mean gee, that place used to grind to a halt if they had a bit of ice and leaves on the tracks.

Does anyone remember what a nightmare commuting in London was?

I sure don't miss it.

Elizabeth I

Good point.