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Touchline • Issue 17 • 9
winter sports represented:
biathlon, bobsleigh,
curling, ice hockey, luge,
skating and skiing
venues to be used in the
games
days for Sochi Games from
start to finish
distance (kilometres)
between Sochi’s “Coastal”’
and “Mountain” clusters
nations participating
sets of bronze, silver and
gold medals
athletes competing in the
games
volunteers working at
games
estimated cost
SOCHI BY THE
NUMBERS
7
11
18
48
85
98
6,000
25,000
$50B
PHOTO:
© ARTHUR MOURATIDIS, 2007
Wide range of activities
Of course, the Winter Olympics encompass a much wider range of activities
than skiing. Indeed, one of the attractions of the event for the casual viewer
is the opportunity to engage with some of the more esoteric winter events
which have increasingly come to the fore in recent years such as the luge,
snowboarding and skeleton. Unfortunately, however, these events can pose just
as much danger to competitors, as sadly demonstrated at the 2010 Vancouver
Winter Olympics when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control at 88
mph during a late-morning training run and flew off the final corner at the
Whistler Sliding Centre. The 21-year-old Olympian struck one of the structural
poles lining that part of the course and attempts to revive him at the track
were unsuccessful.
It is important to remember nonetheless these sports are not limited to the
Olympic Games. Skeleton, a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta
sledding, where a person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying
face down, became permanently added to the Winter Olympic programme
in 2002. Popularity in the sport has grown since then and now includes
participation by some countries that do not or cannot have a track because
of climate, terrain or monetary limitations. Athletes from such countries as
Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, South Africa, Argentina, Iraq, Israel, Mexico,
Brazil and even the Virgin Islands have become involved with the sport in
recent years.
Another more esoteric winter sport, the luge (which translates as “sled”)
sees competitors travelling feet-first down an icy track at up to 85 mph with
only a helmet for protection. This is catching on in countries you would not
necessarily expect; for example, you can learn to luge in Britain, with Chill
Factory in Manchester offering a dedicated luge facility. It is only 60 m long
and far removed from the Olympic event, but still offers a taste.
No shortage of cover
Whether at the highest level of competition or at a more amateur
level, participants in such dangerous sports should be comforted
by the knowledge underwriters do not shy away from cover. The
insurance market, especially at Lloyd’s, has a distinguished history
of offering accident insurance to cover death or disablement for
professional athletes participating in such events, with similar cover
also available for those wishing to participate at an amateur level, typically
offering compensation and/or rehabilitation for disabling injury, medical
expenses and loss of income. Indeed, Sportscover has recently signed a four-
year partnership with the UK’s high-performance sports agency, UK Sport,
which is responsible for unlocking Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic potential.
It is reassuring to know even though for many of us the nearest we will get to
a head-first slide down an ice track at 80 mph is merely as a spectator from
the comfort of our lounge, for those who do want to get serious this winter –
whether in Sochi or Manchester or beyond – bespoke cover is there to support
them.
NO SHORTAGE OF COVER
WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES