Olympic Newsdesk - Luger Memorial, Austrian Scandal, Russian Election

IOC Honors Fallen Luger

More than 1000 people crowded a memorial service Tuesday in the Republic of Georgia for Nodar Kumaritashvili, the 21 year-old luger who died in a training crash the day of opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics.

European Olympic Committees president Pat Hickey led an IOC delegation at the ceremony in Bakuriani, Kumaritashvili’s home town.

VANOC president John Furlong, luge gold medalist Felix Loch and International Luge Federation president Josef Fendt were also present at the ceremony. Representatives from national luge federations and some of their athletes attended as well.

The ceremony was held 40 days after Kumaritashvili's death, according to the rites of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Hickey and Furlong laid wreaths on the luger’s grave and expressed condolences to his family.

"The whole village turned out in force. It was a very sad occasion. His parents were completely distraught. But they were pleased that we were there to show our respects," Hickey tells Around the Rings.

VANOC credential photo for

Hickey met with Kumaritashvili 's parents and sister and also attended a memorial at the house where luge equipment and memorabilia signed by Vancouver Olympians was laid out in memory of the athlete.

A luge track will be built in Bakuriani to honor Kumaritashvili, Georgian Olympic Committee chief Georgy Natsvlishvili confirmed.

The IOC, the International Luge Federation and the Georgian government will contribute to finance the construction of the track which will be used year-round.

Speaking by telephone from Singapore Tuesday, IOC President Jacques Rogge tells ATR that Kumaritashvili’s death "is still painful for me".

"If we can in a way, contribute to continuing the dream of this young man, by building a track, I think that is the right thing to do."

Austria NOC Scandal Widens

Media reports from Austria indicate that as much as three million euros could be involved with an alleged secret account at the Austrian Olympic Committee.

ORF, the national radio and TV network, reports that currentAOC president Karl Stoss says that only half of the money is accounted for so far.

Former president Leo Wallner, former secretary general Heinz Jungwirth and his former deputy Manuela Kovarik were authorized to sign for payments from the account. Wallner says he was unaware of the secret fund.

ORF says missing accounting books, no proper accounting and big cash withdrawals are being investigated by the public prosecutor.

Whether the account included funds from sponsors or the government is still not clear.

Investigators are also trying to determine if cash reimbursements were sought for airline tickets purchased with airline club miles.

The reports by ORF and Kurrier newspaper arethe latest revelations about money troubles at the AOC. Last year secretary general Heinz Jungwirth resigned as the scandal first unfolded. Wallner, also an IOC member, elected not to seek another term as AOC president.

Presidential Election for Russian NOC

Russia's Olympic Committee will elect a new president at a meeting on May 20, the NOC announced Tuesday.

First Vice President of the Russian Olympic Committee Igor Kazikov was named acting president until the committee meets to elect a replacement for Leonid Tyagachev, according to Russian media reports.

Tyagachev quit earlier this month in the wake of Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Olympics. Russia could finish only 11th place in the overall medals table, winning three golds, five silvers and seven bronzes.

Tyagachev's resignation was accepted at the meeting today. He had led the Russian NOC since since 2001, playing an important role in the successful Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic bid.

The latest casualty of the country's disastrous Vancouver Games came today when the president of the Russian Freestyle Federation, Andrei Cherkasov, resigned.

He is the fourth sports chief to quit since Games finished. Leaders of the Russian Ski Racing Federation, the Alpine Ski and Snowboard Federation and the Ski Jumping Federation have also quit.

The resignations come after Russian president Dmitry Medvedev called for sports chiefs responsible for the country's Winter Olympic preparations to step down.

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Written by Mark Bisson.