TBILISI, Ga. — The Georgian luger killed during training at the Vancouver Olympics has been awarded a top IOC medal that was presented to his father.
Nodar Kumaritashvili died when he lost control of his sled at nearly 145 km/h, flew off the course and slammed into a steel pole.
Several International Olympic Committee and International Luge Federation officials attended the ceremony in Kumaritashvili’s home town of Bakuriani.
Georgia’s minister for sport and youth affairs, Lado Vardzelashvili, and the president of Georgia’s Olympic Committee, Gia Natsvlishvili, also took part in the ceremony at his grave.
Kumaritashvili’s father said that Georgian authorities would build a new luge track in Bakuriani that would be named after the athlete.