Hours before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, 21-year-old Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died after hitting an unpadded pole during a routine training exercise at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Vancouver, Canada on Friday morning. "Our first thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues of the athlete," Jacques Rogge , president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told international media. "The whole Olympic family is struck by this tragedy, which clearly casts a shadow over these Games." The International Luge Federation (FIL) is now in the process of conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances of what occurred. Training was suspended until officials were able to certify the course as safe.
Hours before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, 21-year-old Georgian died after hitting an unpadded pole during a routine training exercise at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Vancouver, Canada on Friday morning. "Our first thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues of the athlete," , president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told international media. "The whole Olympic family is struck by this tragedy, which clearly casts a shadow over these Games." The is now in the process of conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances of what occurred. Training was suspended until officials were able to certify the course as safe.
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luger Nodar Kumaritashvili
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Jacques Rogge
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International Luge Federation (FIL)