Tragedy Strikes Winter Olympics As Luger Dies In Crash

Posted on Feb 12, 2010 @ 02:20PM

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Zuma Press

Tragedy has struck the winter Olympics just hours before the opening ceremony is set to start in Vancouver.

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Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luge competitor, was killed in a horrific crash during training on Friday.

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Kumaritashvili's sled veered off of the Olympic track at the Whistler Sliding Centre and slammed into a steel pole at 90mph.

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"Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili has had a serious crash in the final run of official training for the men's singles on Friday," an official statement says. "He fell out of the track when he crashed. He was treated on site by medical staff who administered CPR, and was then taken away in an ambulance."

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Concerns have been raised previously regarding the safety of the track, with several other athletes having been involved in crashes on the course, which is also used for skeleton and bobsleigh.

Kumaritashvili was ranked 44th in the world standings, he was 21-years-old.

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It was an unfortutnunant accident that know for saw. May he RIP

by Kiwi
Posted Sat, 02/13/2010 - 8:18pm

At the beginning of the broadcast for the Opening Ceremonies it was announced that this tragedy had occured. How horrific! My heart-felt condolences go out to the family, teammates & the entire Olympic community. We all grieve with you.

by JustWondering09
Posted Sat, 02/13/2010 - 5:11pm

I didn't see anyone accusing the Canadians of building an unsafe track. It was a horrific accident that is unthinkable! May God Bless Nodar Kumaritashvili's family.

by Umm_What
Posted Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:42am

I seen the video, if the side of the track had been a foot higher that poor guy would still be here. I could never understand this sport, but no one should loose their life like that.

by Why
Posted Sat, 02/13/2010 - 9:25am

The Canadians didn't build the track; the International Olympic Committee planned and built it.