While watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night, I couldn't help but feel that the event was marred by the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the 21-year-old from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia.
Many have come out to say that they felt the Olympics committee should have post-poned the ceremony out of respect for the athlete and his family.
I disagree, but that might be the theater in me talking. The show does have to go on, and as far as being respectful, I think dedicating the opening ceremonies to Kumaritashvili was a nice way of handling it.
Now that the opening ceremonies are over, however, the response to the young man's death seems to be anything but respectful.
It started yesterday afternoon at a press conference, when a reporter asked about the safety of the track.
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, responded by saying, "I'm sorry, this is a time of sorrow. It's not the time to ask for reasons."
What exactly is a press conference for if not for asking questions? Are they planning on having another press conference where reporters will be able to inquire as to why after numerous athletes complained about the track, nothing was done to make it safer?
It seemed like Rogge was using the solemnity of the occasion to dodge the issue at hand--did this athlete really have to die?
Today, the IOC has gone one step further by saying Kumaritashvili's death was the result of "human error."
The committee is claiming that had Kumaritashvili is to blame for his own death due to how he handled the track.
Could there be anything more insulting to his memory and his family than laying the blame for all this on him? Strange coming from a committee whose President was quick to shoot down questions about safety out of respect only yesterday.
"Human error" is a common occurence in sports. Athletes make mistakes all the time. They misjudge something or let their nerves get to them. That's why every precaution must be taken to assure that the circumstances around them are as safe as possible.
The IOC can say that the track had nothing to do with it, but they've made a change to the track, which in my opinion, is the same as admitting fault. Unfortunately, they haven't made enough changes to make the track as secure as it could be. One of the athetes compared it to being treated like a crash-test dummy.
Whether the response is simply an avoidance of action due to the delay or costs it would incur, or the arrogance of the IOC in thinking that athletes should be able to handle anything that's thrown at them, it is taking a tragic situation and creating the ominous feeling that another tragedy could be possible before these games are over.
Many have come out to say that they felt the Olympics committee should have post-poned the ceremony out of respect for the athlete and his family.
I disagree, but that might be the theater in me talking. The show does have to go on, and as far as being respectful, I think dedicating the opening ceremonies to Kumaritashvili was a nice way of handling it.
Now that the opening ceremonies are over, however, the response to the young man's death seems to be anything but respectful.
It started yesterday afternoon at a press conference, when a reporter asked about the safety of the track.
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, responded by saying, "I'm sorry, this is a time of sorrow. It's not the time to ask for reasons."
What exactly is a press conference for if not for asking questions? Are they planning on having another press conference where reporters will be able to inquire as to why after numerous athletes complained about the track, nothing was done to make it safer?
It seemed like Rogge was using the solemnity of the occasion to dodge the issue at hand--did this athlete really have to die?
Today, the IOC has gone one step further by saying Kumaritashvili's death was the result of "human error."
The committee is claiming that had Kumaritashvili is to blame for his own death due to how he handled the track.
Could there be anything more insulting to his memory and his family than laying the blame for all this on him? Strange coming from a committee whose President was quick to shoot down questions about safety out of respect only yesterday.
"Human error" is a common occurence in sports. Athletes make mistakes all the time. They misjudge something or let their nerves get to them. That's why every precaution must be taken to assure that the circumstances around them are as safe as possible.
The IOC can say that the track had nothing to do with it, but they've made a change to the track, which in my opinion, is the same as admitting fault. Unfortunately, they haven't made enough changes to make the track as secure as it could be. One of the athetes compared it to being treated like a crash-test dummy.
Whether the response is simply an avoidance of action due to the delay or costs it would incur, or the arrogance of the IOC in thinking that athletes should be able to handle anything that's thrown at them, it is taking a tragic situation and creating the ominous feeling that another tragedy could be possible before these games are over.
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