Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 28 January 1964, page 18


INNSBRUCK, Monday (A.A.P.). — The ski jury of the 1964 winter Olympics yesterday ordered special safety measures along tlie Mount Patscherkofel downhill course where Australian skier Ross Millie was killed in a fall during training at the weekend.

The Austrian organisers were told to plant two extra compulsory gates in the plunging schuss start, in addition to 11 gates further down to prevent skiers from veering off the course.

Hundreds of trees lining the run were wrapped with straw padding to offer better protection.

Milne was fatally injured wh^n he crashed into a tree three feet above the straw

mat.

"Nobody expected such an abnormal fall," Austrian track chief Erns Spiess said, "but now the mattings go up high enough."

The two additional gates — one just above the first big bump where the Australian fell and the other on the next bump — did not make the course any slower.

Compulsory gates serve

mainly to guide racers in|

turns of the run.

Touglt Coiwse

Top skiers and coaches said after a morning inspection that the 3,120-metre run where the first big race of the January 29-February 9 games will be staged on Thursday was just as fast yesterday as

before.

Experts agree that the Pat

scherkofel course, rated among the toughest in Olympic history, could not be blamed for Milne's tragedy.

The alpine race committee of the International Ski Federation ruled after an inquiry that the accident was "the result of fatal circumstances, in spite of sufficient safety precautions".

Downhill training was resumed today with three-hour runs daily and a non-stop session scheduled for tomor

row;

The alpine girls yesterday began training on the Olympic downhill track, but none

went all out.

More Crates

They agreed that the trail was in good condition, and not dangerous.

Because there was not enough spow on the top of | the trail, is was shortened by

about 450 metres. Three more compulsory gates have also been added.

Australia's Judy Forras, compatriot of Ross Milne, said: "This track is not at all dangerous. I have have not seen the men's course, but I from -what 1 hear about it, >\it must be really tough. Our

run isn't."

- Contestants in the downhill

events, with their coaches, yesterday had a long, slow look at the. course.

The coaches led their squads down the course, stopping every hundred yards or so to check the course and point out features of it to the skiers.

After several days of practice, the skiers agreed that the course was very fast, and a real test of ability.

Mr. Varne Anderson, coach of the Canadian team, said he did not think the course had anything to do with Milne's

death.

Body Flown

"It was just one of those unfortunate things in racing," he said. "It doesn't bother my men in regard to skiing the course, but they do feel very sorry about what happened,"

The body of Milne was flown to London yesterday

afternoon.

Members of the Australian team went to the airport to pay last respects to their popular comrade. British team officials were also present.

The coffin will be flown from London to Melbourne at the express wish of Milne's family.