Men's luge to begin from women's start at Vancouver 2010

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THE men's luge competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will begin on Saturday from the women's starting position, following the death of Georgia's Nodar Kumaritashvili in training on Friday.

CHANGES: Vanoc and FIl officials announce the men's luge run will be shortened after the tragic death of Nodar Kumaritashvili in training on Friday (Getty Images)

The International Luge Federation ruled on Friday that the men's luge competition would go ahead as planned despite the death of the 21-year-old athlete, after a high-speed crash in the bottom section of the course.

Fil concluded that the crash was as a result of athlete error but did confirm they would be making changes to the treacherous course at Whistler Sliding Centre with work going on through the night to raise the wall on the final corner, where the accident occurred.

But Fil president Josef Fendt, secretary general Svein Romstad and Vanoc vice-president Tim Gayda announced on Saturday morning local time, that the course will be shortened.

Romstad also stated that Kumaritashvili had completed 26 training runs on the Olympic track and the crash was as a result of turning late out of corner 15 before losing control at the 16th.

He revealed that any thoughts of postponing the competition would have been for emotional reasons, following the first death at a Winter Olympics since Albertville 1992, and not for safety concerns.

STORY NOW FILED: Fil defend decision to proceed with Olympic luge following tragic death