Georgian luge slider Kumaritashvili killed at Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Posted: Friday 12th February 2010 | 21:25

AS IT HAPPENS....LIVE COVERAGE OF IOC PRESIDENT JACQUES ROGGE'S NEWS CONFERENCE....SCHEDULED 1.30PM PACIFIC TIME (-EIGHT HOURS GMT)

GEORGIAN luge slider Nodar Kumaritashvili has been killed after a horrific crash during training for tomorrow's opening runs at the Winter Olympics, according to reports in Vancouver.

FATAL CRASH: According to reports in Vancouver, Nodar Kumaritashvili has been killed after a high speed crash in training for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics (Getty Images)

The 21-year-old was travelling at an estimated 150 km/h when he flew off the track, crashing head first against a metal pole.

Medics were immediately on the scene and performed CPR before and ambulance arrived. An air-rescue helicopter was summoned and was over the track approximately eight minutes after the crash.

Kumaritashvili's death has been confirmed by International Olympic Committee vice-president Thomas Bach, as well as an official from the United States Olympic Committee.

IOC president Jacques Rogge is due to address the media at 13:30 local time while head of the Georgian Olympic delegation Irakly Japaridze has hinted Georgia may withdraw from the Games.

Kumaritashvili was a relative newcomer to the international luge circuit and finished 55th in last year's World Cup standings.

"I've never seen anything like that," said Shiva Keshavan, a four-time Olympian from India. "I'm afraid it's bad."

The track at Whistler Sliding Centre is thought to be the most demanding in the world and several crashes have punctuated training.

Canada have come in for widespread criticism for restricting overseas nations to the minimum training time permitted by international governing bodies for luge, skeleton and bobsleigh.

"I think they are pushing it a little too much," said Australia's luge slider Hannah Campbell-Pegg on Thursday. "To what extent are we just little lemmings that they just throw down a track and we're crash-test dummies? I mean, this is our lives."

Comments

How many times have foreign

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:47.

How many times have foreign athletes complained about the safety of this track? Too many. Canada have developed the world's most challenging track then limited athletes to a handful of runs. Disgraceful.

THIS IS BAD NICE WAY TO

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 22:26.

THIS IS BAD NICE WAY TO START THE GAMES

It's really too bad, I was

Submitted by K Jensen, Alberta, Canada (not verified) on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 22:26.

It's really too bad, I was in shock when I turned on the TV and saw the news. I do agree 500% in making sports more safe for participants, however, all athletes in dangerous and extreme sports know the risks. I speak from years of street luge experience.