The technical committee and jury of the Olympics bobsleigh competition have decided to move the starting line for the men's competition to a lower elevation, the secretary general of the International Luge Federation said Saturday.
Sven Romstad said at a press conference the decision was made after Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili died on Friday when he came off the track at the Whistler Sliding Center near the end of the run and flew into a metal pole at 140 km/h (90 mph).
The men's start was originally at an elevation of 1,374 meters; however, it has been lowered to the 1,198-meter level where the women's competition begins.
The walls have been raised at the exit to turn 16, where Friday's tragedy occurred, so a similar incident does not occur again.
WHISTLER, February 13 (RIA Novosti)
