LUGE CRASH: A Wake up Call for everyone To all those people that say the internet shouldnt contain photos of him unfortunatley for you the olympics is a media playground and the luger knew what he was entering the story of his death will be mediarised the photos will be shown. As tragic as the story is the fact that the media will show pictures and they will show footage. RIP

Don't remove the video. I agree that it's disrespectful but keep the internet free and open. If you don't want to watch it then don't watch it. It's death. It happens to us all. Accept it and if you can't deal with it watch another video.

it's so tasteless that this is posted on here. RIP.

I've been trying to find this video online because I wanted to see for myself what happened. :| Sucks. Poor dude. So young too.

Pull this shit, now. If I want to see videos of people dying, I'll go to another site.

I really, really wish this video would be removed from this website and the mainstream media. If I could I would scrub it from the entire internet. Truly disturbing and highly disrespectful.

It's disturbing to me that the Olympic governing body is too proud and arrogant to admit that they are partially responsible for this young man's death. To believe that an accident such as this could never, ever occur (because it never has in the past), is beyond absurd. Athletes over the world, have always made their opinions and beliefs known regarding their individual events and to ignore those that know best the perils and dangers, is an outright travesty to the athletes and the sports world in general.

Immediately after watching…  It is beyond explanation why, at such a high-speed track, with the possibility of such high-speed crashes, the groups that put it together did not plan for a simple plexiglass or hockey-style wall to deflect the energy carried by a high-flying Luger and, simultaneously protect said Luger's life. This should not have happened. Accident or not, this person should have survived. The one of the things they should plan for in such a high-speed course is accidents and minimizing injury.  Short-sighted planning makes for bad, bad business, bad press and most importantly, loss, suffering and grief. My condolences to Nodar Kumaritashvili's family and friends

LUGE CRASH OPINIONS  This is disturbing to watch and I feel troubled that I did. That being said, the pictures are incredibly unnecessary and I think very disrespectful. I mean, really, it's not like those seeing them are going to change our own behaviors since this clearly isn't something a reader does on a regular basis.

For all those experts who claim the course was fine, it's very telling that numerous sliders - experienced ones who have gone down other tracks hundreds of times - also crashed on this track and were terrified of it. Also telling that tighest turns were designed at bottom with highest speeds vs. the top of the track. THe track seems to have been designed poorly, and not properly safeguard. Ever been to any ski resort in the world with expose steel gurders. The International Luge Committee can say what they want, but the Canadian Olympic Committee who would be responsible for overseeing their venues and Whistler should plan on getting their wallets! They're liable.

Updates: An eye opening details The track has been in use for about a year and a half and has been tested. It's not like it was just opened. The luge World Cup was held last year on it. Yes the track is the fastest in the world and is technically challenging but this was an ACCIDENT. A horrible accident. I feel bad for everyone involved and what a horrible way to open the games. I live 2 blocks from the Opening Ceremonies and there is such an excitement in the air, its hard to know that something so tragic has happened.

I came up on this video by COMPLETE ACCIDENT…I am so sick and disgusted by the fact that people are actually showing this. How sad is it that this poor young man lost his life and people are watching this like it is just another show on television. No one needs to be watching this…unless its some individual whom is thinking of taking this activity up as their new hobby. This family really needs your prayers… Dear God please bless this family in their time of sorrow and saddness, may they find comfort and peace in knowing that their son is resting in your loving arms.

Very very sad, Nodar Kumaritasvili's death in the Winter Olympics Luge. It may well have been an error on his part, but no one should die in any sport for making an error, however big or small. You have to say how crazy it was having those exposed metal poles so close to the track.

This video shows a serious design flaw in the Vancouver luge track.
After the 16th turn he goes into a blind spot for a moment, thats when he lost control, went air born, and hit the metal pole at 150 km/h. Point of impact appears to be his neck/shoulder

That part of the track is obviously unsafe and the builders are negligent. More thought to the safety of the athletes should have gone into it. He died doing what he loved and may he rest in peace, but someone should be sued for millions!

Unfortunetly he died from his injuries, that he died doing what he liked and hopefully he will R.I.P.

Always shifting the blame away from where it should lie..It is easy to see that with the speeds involved and the low walls in that turn that beams close on either side WOULD pose a serious threat to anyone misjudging that turn. Impact resistant plexiglassrunning the length of that corridor would not impede the view yet would have been ALOT safer and would have saved at least one life.. Safety concerns in building these courses should also cover both sides of the track as well…

2 people clicked [LOL] What's wrong with people?

He died instantly. Reported as dying at the hospital… no way… he was gone before that. So terrific, so sad, the track should have a barrier to keep the athletes from hitting those metal beams. Duh!

This mornings news: “Officials also have modified the last turn where he crashed, erecting a 12-foot-high wooden wall to cover the exposed steel beams.” ——— Duh! This is the right thing to do. It's also like admitting blame. Olymnpic law suit to follow.