Three years before the Vancouver games track was built Olympic Luge organizers were told that it would send driver speed downhill, easy past records would eclipse - and when it was built, two sets of track adjustments made apparent safety concerns people in the sport said involved.
The revelations about the safety of the route course including Swiss medal came as two drivers being pulled out of competition on the track, the Whistler Sliding Centre favorite beat Hefti. Mr Hefti suffered a concussion and other injuries in a training crash most run Wednesday one Bobsledders runs several crashes during practice.
Udo throat Organizer knew before the construction of the Whistler Sliding Centre, shown here in September 2006 it was, to the world's fastest.There are indications that the international Luge Federation or FIL started basketball Federation, hearing concerns about the safety of Whistler Sliding Centre track shortly after it opened in 2008.
Some top Lugers high-speed crashes suffered while initial runs in 2008, Austrian luge team member Wolfgang Kindl said late Thursday. If a Luger too soon passed from the turn 11 in turn 12, for example, it was almost impossible in a wall or a skid collide. After 12 he said would result in an earlier transition in turn 13 one almost inevitably reflect of the slide.
"I had problems, a lot of people have had problems," said Mr Kindl, the ninth placed this week medal Chase. "We not have to use the speed."
Mr Kindl and Christoph Schweiger, Secretary General of the Austrian Luge Federation, said coach from numerous national team currently with FIL discussed how the track to make safer.
If been slider returns months later for February World Cup event, the ice profile again modified 12, built a roof over turn 14 and walls had added security to some of the other curves, said Mr Kindl. Yet, as quickly and as difficult as everyone in the world was, he said the line.
Wolfgang harder, spokesman for the international Luge Federation, said his organization was for changes to the track after February 2009 World Cup competition. Those include the construction of additional security walls at curves, 11, 12 and 13 - but not to curve 16, the location where 21-year-old Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died last week.
Mr. harder not address changes the World Cup, or say what later sparked calls for changes its organization. The track's designer, Udo throat, said it is standard for technical committees within the international Luge and Bob associations recommend security features for each new site before it is approved for the international competition.
Design documents considered by the Wall Street Journal, including sketches and speed tables, show that the Vancouver games organizers, VANOC, signed on a curriculum in 2004 the one projected to include top Luge speed of less than 98 miles per hour. Peak speed in the international competition in 2000, was approximately 87 miles per hour.
The Vancouver track became part there was on a strict site than those selected for previous Olympic track, meaning it far-reaching, slowing down of the speed curves that typically include many other courses could not.
The track's designer, Udo throat, said VANOC the Luge Association receive the specifications. "The technical Commission of the FIL the same information,", said Mr throat.
A VANOC spokeswoman said that changes on the track earlier been made, but not in a position to discuss leadership available Friday to make.
Immediately after Mr. of Kumaritashvili's fatal accident said VANOC and FIL the route was sure, that the driver to control his sleigh.
Mr. harder said that after the the FIL play "rethink" collected information about the accident on Friday and determine how best to would foster. This study, published he said, probably at the end of March. "All are examined," he said. "Security is our guiding principle."
Mr throat has designed several Olympic Luge runs said he plans to support the FIL investigation after the games. "I think, an investigation is important;" We call for an investigation would if it were not already planned, "said Mr throat."
-Geoffrey A. Fowler contributed to this article.Write toDavid Crawford at the david.crawford@wsj.com and Matt Futterman on matthew.futterman@wsj.com
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