Bobsleigh 'breaks legs' of worker in track crash

Rosa Khutor (Russia) (AFP) - A bobsleigh smashed into a course worker at the Olympic Games' Sanki sliding centre on Thursday leaving the man reportedly with both legs broken, an AFP reporter who witnessed the incident said.

The incident occurred at the start of training for the two-man bobsleigh competition when the forerunner bob, which is used to clear and test the track at the beginning of the day's schedule, hit a track worker.

Video footage shown on the media mixed zone's monitors just minutes after the incident showed paramedics and volunteers trying to evacuate the man who was lying on track.

Sochi officials later confirmed the incident which took place between the exit of the final curve and the finish line and that training had been delayed.

"The worker was injured and taken to hospital by helicopter ambulance," said a statement although organisers did not confirm the extent of the victim's injuries.

Later the organisers added more details of the incident.

?During today?s official bobsleigh training session and according to standard procedure, a warning signal was given ahead of the forerunners? bob beginning its run on the track," they said.

"Near the braking zone, the forerunners? bob collided with an icemaker.

"The worker was injured, received immediate medical assistance on the track and was then taken to hospital. The reasons for the icemaker?s presence on the track after the warning signal are currently being determined.

"We are in close contact with the hospital and he is receiving medical treatment of the highest standard."

Safety at sliding tracks has been a major issue ever since the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver when Georgian 21-year-old luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died after a crash during a training descent.

The Sanki track will later Thursday stage the luge team relay gold medal event which is due to start at 1615GMT.