2010 Winter Olympics: Luger dies just hours before opening ceremonies

VANCOUVER — Nodar Kumaritashvili died just hours before the opening ceremonies of his first Olympic Games on the very track where he hoped to make his Olympic dreams come true.

The 21-year-old luge athlete from The Republic of Georgia was killed in a horrific crash on the Luge Track at Whistler on Friday morning. The crash occurred at Thunderbird Curve, which is curve 16. It is the fastest curve on the track with speeds that subject riders to up to 5.5 Gs of force.

"I'm told by members of his federation that he was an incredibly spirited young person," said VANOC CEO John Furlong at a press conference Friday afternoon. "And he came here to be able to feel what it's like to be able to call yourself an Olympian."

The young Georgian crashed as he came out of a short tunnel on the track, smashing first into the top of the tunnel, which sent him careening across the track where his sled hit the lip of the track. He was thrown from the sled and into a metal pylon, where he lay motionless.

Rescuer workers and volunteers got to Kumaritashvili within seconds of the accident but were unable to revive him. He was flown to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.

"It is with great regret that we confirm the death of the Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili during the final training session at the Whistler Sliding Center this morning," said Mark Adams, the IOC press officer. "Mr. Kumaritashvili died after crashing on the last corner during training. Doctors were unable to revive the athlete."

Officials are investigating the accident, and declined to answer any questions about whether anything would change for the competition and whether the track was unsafe. It has been called the fastest track in the world, and some have criticized the VANOC for not allowing foreign countries more practice time on the track, which reportedly reaches speeds over 90 mph.

"The track is too fast," said Josef Fendt, president of the World Luge Federation. "We had planned it to be a maximum of 137 kph (85 mph). But it is about 20 kph faster. We think this is a planning mistake."

Still, Rogge and Furlong said jumping to conclusions was unfair and they would wait to make any decisions until an investigation was complete. It was not clear just who would be investigating the accident and whether or not police would be involved.

"This is a time of sorrow," he said. "Not a time to look for reasons. That will come in time."