- Title: CANADA: WINTER OLYMPICS VANCOUVER 2010 - Slovenia protests about safety standards
- Date: 22nd February 2010
- Summary: WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (FEBRUARY 20, 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) TINA MAZE, SLOVENIAN SILVER MEDALLIST IN WOMEN'S SUPER-G, SPEAKING ABOUT HER TEAMMATE PETRA MAJDIC, SAYING: "I talk to her. Every word for her is it's not acceptible. Anything you say it's not acceptable because it's just...What she did is just be silent and I mean what she did is great
- Embargoed: 9th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Canada
- Country: Canada
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA2ECWHQGH15TW85N5EMYTZB0RP
- Story Text: A protest by the Slovenian team is the latest in the ongoing complaints the organisers have faced about safety standards.
Questions about competitor safety have dominated these Olympics since Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a training run a week ago and showed no signs of abating.
The Slovenian team filed a protest with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), VANOC (Games organisers) and FIS because of "too dangerous" track conditions on the Olympic cross country course after one of their skiers suffered four broken ribs following a fall.
Petra Majdic plunged down a hill into a gully while training before the 1.4km sprint at Whistler Olympic Park on Wednesday (February 17) but went on to compete in three qualifying races to claim a bronze medal. Majdic went to hospital on Wednesday (February 17) and was treated for her injuries.
Assistant team manager Blaz Perko said the team are awaiting an official response from all three filings.
"We left our doors open for any legal charges afterwards. But at the moment we are expecting a response and we are looking at the matter of what can be done and so on," Perko told Reuters Television.
FIS (International Ski Federation) officials found no grounds for concern following Slovenia's complaint about the "dangerous" condition of the course.
At a news conference in Vancouver Tim Gayda, VANOC vice president in charge of sports, told reporters: "It is just one of those unfortunate things that happened in an area that no one felt there could be a crash on that site. We have looked and have made adjustments."
But Perko said circumstances on the course were different than they had been in previous days and the team believes there may be a reason to pursue the matter further.
"We think that if this fall wouldn't happen and she thinks also, her team especially, they work for more medals. And her season is going to end now after the Olympics so that is the problem also, not just the medal. She achieved that and that's perfect and it's almost impossible what she did. But still she prepared for a more races and more races still to come after the Olympics so we think that was also the problem for her."
Team doctors said that Majdic, one of the favourites for women's sprint, was released from hospital on Saturday (February 20) and was headed to the athletes' village, where she will remain throughout the Games.
Slovenian silver medallist Tina Maze said she spoke to her team mate via SMS and supports her protest.
"Anything you say it's not acceptable because it's just...What she did is...I mean what she did is great and I am proud of her and I am proud of Slovenia and me that I can add another medal to our small country, " said Maze.
Perko said Majdic will give a news conference detailing her plans in the coming days. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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