But there are questions to ask, and lessons to be learned for startups, and for entrepreneurs in general. Here are some of the questions raised for me. Perhaps you can think of more:
What processes do you do by hand that could be automated? The timing was done by hand - a notoriously error-prone process. relentless automation can systematically weed out systematic errors, provided they are properly monitored and tested. Then you can forget them, and let them do their job.
Do you have the right people doing the right jobs? The report is that the time-keeper was an inappropriately chosen volunteer. It's notoriously easy to leave a job in the hands of someone who may not get it right when it's important. And just when isn't it important? (actually, sometimes)
Do you have the right error reporting processes in place? The team lodged an appeal, and clearly that didn't go anywhere. Why not? The entire bout could surely have been replayed and the timing checked. The result, in truth, should never have been in doubt, and could easily have been overturned.
Do you have the right corrective measures in place? After reviewing the bout, surely it should be straight-forward to correct the result. When you have a mistake reported, can you roll-back and make it right?
And finally (for me - perhaps you have more points to make), always, always consider the individual. This poor woman was left distraught on the piste, unable to leave, in full view of the audience, in tears, her lifetime's work hanging in the balance, out of her control.
So let me ask - how well do you look after your users?