Olympic luger dies on track where speed caused concern – CNN.com
(CNN) — The death of a Georgian luge athlete Friday ahead of the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics occurred amid concerns about the speed of the record-setting track at the Whistler Sliding Center, according to a Georgian official. “There were some questions asked by other athletes even before this tragic accident,” said Nikolas Rurua, Georgia’s deputy minister for culture and sports, adding that there had been several crashes in the same area. “But at this moment it would be premature for me to jump to any conclusions.”Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, was on his final official training run when he had a “serious crash” near the end of the 4,500-foot-long course and was propelled off the track, according to the International Olympic Committee. Video of the crash shows Kumaritashvili lying motionless after being thrown from his sled and striking a steel pole as he was coming out of the course’s last turn. He was given CPR by medical staff on site before being transported to a hospital where doctors were unable to revive him, the IOC said.
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