Olympic luger dies after crash during training run

By The Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A men's Olympic luger from the country of Georgia died Friday after a high-speed crash on a track that is the world's fastest and has raised safety concerns among competitors.

A tearful IOC president Jacques Rogge said the death hours before the opening ceremony "clearly casts a shadow over these games."

Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled during training, went over the track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole near the finish line at Whistler Sliding Center. Paramedics and doctors were unable to revive the 21-year-old luger, who died at a hospital, the International Olympic Committee said.

"We are heartbroken beyond words," said John Furlong, chief executive of the Vancouver organizing committee.

Before speaking at a news conference, Rogge took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes and said, "Sorry, it's a bit difficult to remain composed."

"Here you have a young athlete that lost his life in pursuing his passion," Rogge added. "He had a dream to participate in the Olympic Games. He trained hard and he had this fatal accident. I have no words to say what we feel."

Rogge said he was in contact with Kumaritashvili's family and officials from the Georgian government. Georgia's Olympic committee was deciding whether to remain in the games, Rogge added.

An investigation into the crash started quickly, although Rogge said this was not the time to talk about it. The men's luge competition is to begin this afternoon. Officials at the Whistler track were uncertain if the schedule would be affected.

Rescue workers were at Kumaritashvili's side within seconds. Chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation started less than one minute after the crash, and he was quickly airlifted to a trauma center in Whistler.

After smashing into the pole, he was motionless on a metal walkway. His left leg was in the air and his left foot was propped atop the track wall when the first rescue worker arrived and placed both hands on his helmet.

The rest of men's training was canceled for the day, with VANOC officials saying an investigation was taking place to "ensure a safe field of play."

The danger of the Whistler track has been talked about for months - particularly after several countries, including the U.S., were upset over access restrictions for everyone but Canada, with some noting it could lead to a safety issue.

Kumaritashvili is the fourth competitor to die at the Winter Games and the first since 1992.

n Vonn waits: Lindsey Vonn is getting extra time to let her badly bruised right shin rest and heal, thanks to an Olympic skiing schedule already in disarray because of wet and warm weather in Whistler, British Columbia.

The opening women's Alpine race, Sunday's super-combined, was postponed Friday because the women will not have had a chance to train on the downhill course. Thursday's training run was scrapped after two racers started, and practice was canceled altogether for Friday and Saturday.

Although one would imagine such developments distress plenty of people - from skiers to fans, from Olympic and skiing officials to TV types - do not count Vonn among those who wish things were going according to schedule.

"I'm lucking out pretty heavily because of all the cancellations," the American said. "Normally I would be disappointed, but for my shin, I think, this is the best possible scenario."

The two-time overall World Cup champion has been pegged as a medal contender in all five Alpine events at the Winter Games, including an overwhelming favorite for golds in the downhill and super-G.

But that was before Vonn revealed Wednesday that she was hurt last week in pre-Olympic practice. She fell during a slalom training run and slammed her right boot against her leg.

"We are heartbroken beyond words," said John Furlong, chief executive of the Vancouver organizing committee.

Before speaking at a news conference, Rogge took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes and said, "Sorry, it's a bit difficult to remain composed."

"Here you have a young athlete that lost his life in pursuing his passion," Rogge added. "He had a dream to participate in the Olympic Games. He trained hard and he had this fatal accident. I have no words to say what we feel."

Rogge said he was in contact with Kumaritashvili's family and officials from the Georgian government. Georgia's Olympic committee was deciding whether to remain in the games, Rogge added.

An investigation into the crash started quickly, although Rogge said this was not the time to talk about it. The men's luge competition is to begin this afternoon. Officials at the Whistler track were uncertain if the schedule would be affected.

Rescue workers were at Kumaritashvili's side within seconds. Chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation started less than one minute after the crash, and he was quickly airlifted to a trauma center in Whistler.

After smashing into the pole, he was motionless on a metal walkway. His left leg was in the air and his left foot was propped atop the track wall when the first rescue worker arrived and placed both hands on his helmet.

The rest of men's training was canceled for the day, with VANOC officials saying an investigation was taking place to "ensure a safe field of play."

The danger of the Whistler track has been talked about for months - particularly after several countries, including the U.S., were upset over access restrictions for everyone but Canada, with some noting it could lead to a safety issue.

Kumaritashvili is the fourth competitor to die at the Winter Games and the first since 1992.

n Vonn waits: Lindsey Vonn is getting extra time to let her badly bruised right shin rest and heal, thanks to an Olympic skiing schedule already in disarray because of wet and warm weather in Whistler, British Columbia.

The opening women's Alpine race, Sunday's super-combined, was postponed Friday because the women will not have had a chance to train on the downhill course. Thursday's training run was scrapped after two racers started, and practice was canceled altogether for Friday and Saturday.

Although one would imagine such developments distress plenty of people - from skiers to fans, from Olympic and skiing officials to TV types - do not count Vonn among those who wish things were going according to schedule.

"I'm lucking out pretty heavily because of all the cancellations," the American said. "Normally I would be disappointed, but for my shin, I think, this is the best possible scenario."

The two-time overall World Cup champion has been pegged as a medal contender in all five Alpine events at the Winter Games, including an overwhelming favorite for golds in the downhill and super-G.

But that was before Vonn revealed Wednesday that she was hurt last week in pre-Olympic practice. She fell during a slalom training run and slammed her right boot against her leg.