Safety rules on Olympic track stricter after serious accident tobogganist | Sport

sport">During his descent, the Pole collided with a closed gate, which should have been open. He broke a kneecap and sustained a deep flesh wound in his leg. The international luge federation FIL announced that additional safety measures have immediately come into effect, including “blockades at the start, as soon as the training shifts to the other starting location.”

sport">“Everyone involved sympathizes with Sochowicz and the Polish team and will continue to do their best to ensure the safety of the athletes. They will do everything they can to prevent these kinds of accidents in the future.” The organizers also looked at the intervals between the starts and put up a screen to check the position of the gate.

sport">Sochowicz has since undergone surgery and has sent a photo from the hospital with his thumb raised. The Beijing Games Organizing Committee wishes him a speedy recovery. The Winter Games start on February 4, the tobogganing a day later.

—