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Georgian luger dies after horrific training crash
By Lei Lei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-02-13 11:29
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VANCOUVER, Canada: A tragedy cast the shadow of the Vancouver Winter Olympic hours before the opening ceremony since the International Olympic Committee confirmed the death of the Georgian luge athlete, Nodar Kumaritashvili, after a clash during the final training session at the Whistler Sliding Center in the morning on Feb 12.
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 Candles are lit up in commemoration of late Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia at the Whistler medal plaza ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, February 12, 2010. Kumaritashvili, a 21-year-old Georgian luger, died in a horrific crash on a training run on Friday, casting a pall over the Winter Olympics hours before the Games were to be declared open. Kumaritashvili slammed into a pillar at 90 mph after being thrown off the sled as it bounced over the rim on the 16th and final bend of the lightning fast track at the Whistler Sliding Centre. [Photo/Agencies] |
Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over the track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. Doctors were unable to revive the 21-year-old luger, who died at a hospital, IOC said.
"Our first thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the athlete. The whole Olympic Family is struck by this tragedy, which clearly casts a shadow over these Games", said IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in the statement.
"We are deeply struck by this tragedy and join the IOC in extending our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of this athlete, who came to Vancouver to follow his Olympic dream", said John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC, the Games Organizing Committee.
For the International Luge Federation, President Josef Fendt said: "This is a terrible accident. This is the gravest thing that can happen in sport, and our thoughts and those of the 'luge family', are naturally with those touched by this event."
An investigation is underway into the circumstances of the accident. Training was suspended and technical officials are now trying to establish the causes.
Kumaritashvili struck the inside wall of the track on the final turn. His body immediately went airborne and cleared the ice-coated concrete wall along the left side of the sliding surface. His sled remained in the track, and it appeared his helmet visor skidded down the ice.
Olympic competition in men's luge is scheduled to begin on Feb 13. It's unclear if that schedule would be affected.
