Olympic death gets ugly, Vancouver games doomed with protests
The death of 21 year old luger Nodar Kumaritashvili has cast its shadow over the much hyped Winter Olympic events. Local photographer Kris Krug was hit in the face with a riot shield after being pushed back by police as he was trying to take photos.
THE DEATH of 21-year old luger Nodar Kumaritashvili has cast its shadow over the much hyped Winter Olympic events. On Saturday, 200 masked protesters smashed windows of department stores and splattered red paint across Vancouver Games venues.
Police said the group marched through the shopping district, vandalizing cars and stores. Protesters also threw metal boxes on display windows of Hudson's Bay Company, where Olympic souvenirs are sold. Vancouver has been facing problems ever since the run-up started to the games. Lack of actual snow, hundreds of millions in losses as NBC expected to take broadcasting the games, and now the luger death spelling riots. Vancouverians have been upset about the way the Olympic games have been handled by the government. The Olympic projects have come in well over budget. Some feel that the money would have been better spent going to social services, particularly as the city grapples with the effects of the recession.But now, the protests are beginning to turn violent.
Rich Gorman, regional vice president for Hudson's Bay, said the protestors have caused damage to the tune of $10,000. "It's just unfortunate but nobody was hurt and that's the key," he said. "We'll move on." Kumaritashvili was ranked 44th in the world and competed in five of the eight World Cup events this season, according to news reports. His death has kick-started a round of angry protests and controversy. The officials who investigated the crash death said that it was an error on part of Kumaritashvili that led to the fatal accident. This has further enraged people following the event. Georgia's minister of culture and sport, Nikolos Rurua, dismissed assertions that Kumaritashvili was too inexperienced to race on the fast Whistler track where sliders have reached 95 mph during this week's training.
Rich Gorman, regional vice president for Hudson's Bay, said the protestors have caused damage to the tune of $10,000. "It's just unfortunate but nobody was hurt and that's the key," he said. "We'll move on." Kumaritashvili was ranked 44th in the world and competed in five of the eight World Cup events this season, according to news reports. His death has kick-started a round of angry protests and controversy. The officials who investigated the crash death said that it was an error on part of Kumaritashvili that led to the fatal accident. This has further enraged people following the event. Georgia's minister of culture and sport, Nikolos Rurua, dismissed assertions that Kumaritashvili was too inexperienced to race on the fast Whistler track where sliders have reached 95 mph during this week's training.
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.I agree with Todd---the rest of you go protest in Venezuala with Hugo. By the way there Chuck in Winnipeg---voters are the "backbone of civil liberties" , not your protesters. But then again I guess you have to read to be able to vote!
Bill in Goderich
.If you don't believe that the 'riot' was premeditated, visit sites like riot2010.com . These sites have existed for at least a year. "riot 2010" actually has a logo that has been in graphity circulation for at least a year.
.This article is shockingly inaccurate. The protests have NOTHING to do with the death of the luger. The protests are self-described anarchists. The opposition to the yesterday's protests was overwhelming. It's just a handful of violent thugs many of whom probably aren't even from Vancouver.
Premeditated? Self described anarchists? The reasons that people are protesting varies as widely as is imaginable....but it is being generated by the mis appropriation of public money to an event such as this. The people who paid for this, the taxpayer, has no voice in this Olympic debacle...and therein lies the frustration. A multi-million dollar opening ceremony?...When schools are being shut down, teachers given partial paychecks and unemployment rising, how can this be finacially responsible project?...Especially when it cam in six time over budget..unbelievable...and you wonder why people are apset?...give your head a shake..
.Though I do not support violence of any sort, it would seem regrettably, this country dont have ears when people speak????
This country is in need of more funding for health care, education, environment etc etc the list is non ending, so whats wrong with people protesting wasting how many Billions for only a 16 day holiday ( for some canadians, since most the working class cant afford even the fare to go out and view it live... no we have to save our money to pay our taxes.... )
.Where is this news site based? There are so many inaccuracies in this story, that I don't know where to start. Research your story first! And what the heck is a "Vancouverians"? lol
.Sounds like the tea party wacky libertarian people are up to no good as right wing nuts mess up another good thing.
.Actually, the protests and "riot" had nothing to do with the death on the luge course. It was a pre-planned, well-organized act of violence perpetrated protestors who dressed in black and work black head and face coverings. There is a consortium of social activitists in town to protest the Olympics. Like the Battle in Seattle, some are just here to act out and cause trouble
yes osme are just in Vancouver to cause problems for people who can;t stop them. They are called the IOC. Try living woth the secrifices the residents of this province have been forced to make. People have been warning that violence would occur since before the bid by VanOC was accepted by the IOC and yet they decided to still bring the games.
.The protesters for me are the only intersting aspect of the two wek long Olympic Circus. The vandalism is unfortunate, but is a small price to pay in comparison to all the damage the Hudson's bay company is responsible for over hundreds of years, of ill treating the aboriginals, and raping Canada of most of its wildlife. It is also a small price to pay in comparison to how adversely the effects of the games have been on the city with circumstances not yet realized. Protesters are the backbone of civil liberties and with out these voices the freedoms many of us take for granted would never have been won.
Holy smokes. . .sorry to tell you "Chuck" but your take on things is completely skewed. If you thing balaclava wearing treehuggers are the backbone of our civil liberties in this country, you are severely misguided, and that is "unfortunate" for you. These protester's are losers who need to resort to violence becuase their clueless "messages" cannot stand on their own. They should take off their masks and be seen the world over for the "heroes" they are. . . or is it possibly that they have enough intelligence to at least realize that they are idiots, and an embarassment to our country as we host the world. They are cowardly little weasles, period. If you don't like the olympics. .don't watch them. If your reply is "my tax dollars. . blah blah blah". . . save it. My tax dollars have been supporting the unemployed, the criminals, the "ill-treated" population, the cracked out homelsss meth-head losers, and a list of other non-contributors to our society. . and you know what. . I keep quiet about it because I conduct my life with class. . .which is more than I can say for the retards trying to grease thier own negativity and hatred into a perfectly positive event like the olympics. . . Go Canada Go!
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