Olympic Newsdesk- VANOC Insured for Georgia Luger, Russian Medalists at Kremlin, IAAF Indoors

Insurance for Georgia Luger

The family of Nodar Kumaritashvili will receive death benefits as part of VANOC's insurance policy.

Kumaritashvili died Feb. 12 during a training run when he lost control of his luge and hit a pole next to the track.

"We've been in contact with Nodar Kumaritashvili's family to advise of the death benefit that was part of our Olympic Family overage and as soon as practically possible our insurer will be in touch with them to execute the policy, the amount of which I am not able to provide out of respect for the family's privacy,” says VANOC spokeswoman Renee Smith-Valade in a statement Monday.

The International Luge Federation announced last week it donated 10,000 Euros to the fallen luger's family. Smith-Valadae said VANOC may give a donation to the foundation established by the federation for the Kumaritashvili family.

Medvedev Awards Medalists State Honors

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev welcomed Russia’s Olympic medalists to the Kremlin Monday, giving them state honors for their achievements in Vancouver.

The Vancouver Olympics were the worst performance for Russia at a Winter Olympics since the end of the Soviet Union, with the team winning 15 medals, three gold, to finish 11th in the medal tally.

Despite that, Medvedev said the team showed “high potential.”

"You went out and you did your best," he added.

Gold medalists received the Order of Friendship, one of Russia’s highest civilian honors, while silver and bronze medalists received the Order of Merit for the Motherland and Order of Merit for the Fatherland respectively.

The Russian government will award medalists with a cash prize. Gold medalists will take home more than $136,000, silver medalists more than $80,000 and bronze medalists around $55,000.

In total, 179 Olympians represented Russia in Vancouver.

German Economics Minster Heads to Brazil for World Cup, Olympic Talks

German Minister of Economics and Technology Rainer Bruderle will head to Brazil to discuss a partnership between the two countries for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.

Some of the topics Bruderle will discuss include the involvement of German companies in stadia and construction projects for the events.

According to the European Pressphoto Agency, Bruderle and a group of German business leaders will arrive in Brazil April 26, and leave on the 30th. He will visit Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia.

Last December, Brazilian president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva signed a memorandum of understating with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that said Germany would help Brazil stage the World Cup and Olympics.

IAAF Championships Conclude

Frenchman Teddy Tamgho capped the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar by setting a new record in the triple jump with a distance of 17.90 meters.

The three-day world championships went smoothly without any major incidents at the Aspire Dome.

IAAF vice president and vice president of Asian Athletics Association Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad said the event demonstrates that Qatar can host other major international sporting events. The country is making a bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“Qatar has one of the world’s best sport infrastructures and the experience of hosting major events in the state,” Al Hamad said before the closing ceremony for the championships. “The success of the IAAF Indoor Championships reflects Qatar’s organizations abilities and the ambition of becoming the sports hub in the region.”

Prior to the championships, IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe told Around the Rings thatattendance was a major question. There were doubts that the event would garner enough local interest to fill the 15,000-seat dome and a few days prior to championships organizers reported that 80 percent of tickets were sold.

On Sunday, the organizers said attendance and media participation surpassed expectations although exact attendance figures were not available by the time of publication. Groups empty seats could be seen on TV and in pictures. Organizers say the opening ceremony sold out as well as at least one session of finals.

“The tickets were sold out two days prior to the opening ceremony; unfortunately hundreds of fans missed out on attending the opening ceremony at the Aspire Dome,” said Abdulrahman Mosallam Al Dosari, the head of marketing for the organizing committee. “The tremendous attendance of fans, athletic lovers and enthusiasts has positively contributed in securing splendid success for the championship.”

Athletes competed for 78 medals. The U.S. won the overall title with 165 points behind 17 medals including eight golds. Russia finished second with 106 points thanks to nine medals including two golds and four silvers. Cuba was third with 47 points.

The championships officially concluded when IAAF President Lamine Diack handed the World Indoor Championships flag to organizers of the 2012 Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

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Written by Ed Hula III and Sam Steinberg.