Safety before speed urges Georgian president after luge tragedy

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

GEORGIAN president Mikheil Saakashvili has called on luge's world governing body to take the issue of safety more seriously.

SOMBRE: Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili addresses reporters at the Olympic Main Media Centre in Vancouver (Getty Images)

Saakashvili addressed reporters just hours after speaking with the parents of Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died yesterday during a training run for Saturday's Olympic men's luge competition. 

An official investigation has already concluded that the accident occurred due to an athlete error and IOC communications chief Mark Adams insists his organisation believe the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre is ‘fast but safe'.

But Mr Saakashvili claimed he hoped a legacy of the 21-year's tragic death would be officials think more about how future Olympic venues are designed.

"Questions were asked about this track," he said. 

"There were some suggestions that the wall should have been higher at the point where the accident occurred and now, because of this tragedy, that has happened.

"The good news is that they've built it now, but the best news in the future would be to listen more to the grievances of sportsmen, listen more to their sensitivities and maybe then we don't have to do things in the aftermath.

"I do not say there was negligence. It's up to the inquiry to determine what has happened. 

"But I heard on television that this accident was because of human error, and I believe that any human error should not lead to the death of an athlete."

The Georgian president revealed that Kumaritashvili had called his parents just hours before the accident to tell them they would be proud of him.

And he added they was never any discussion about the Georgian delegation withdrawing from the Games.

"The Olympic movement is all about perseverance. It's about unbroken spirit. It's about future and strength. No matter what their tragedy, it's about being the future. It's about carrying on," he added.