KITZBUEHEL Austria (AP) -- Nothing new about an air bag to
protect people during accidents.
But this one is for skiing accidents.
A high-tech system that is supposed to inflate air bags under the racing suits of competitive skiiers is expected to be introduced at the Winter Olympics in two years.
A first prototype of the system was presented yesterday in Austria. It was demonstrated by the International Ski Federation and the Italian company that's making it.
The goal is to protect the skier's back, chest, shoulders and collar bones in the event of a fall.
A ski official says there may be no way to prevent crashes -- but that the system could help skiiers walk away from them in one piece.