IOC Receives Report on Fatal Luge Accident

(ATR) A report on the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili at the Vancouver Olympics goes to the IOC Monday, delivered in person by the president of FIL, the international luge federation.

Joseph Fendt will be accompanied by secretary general Svein Romstad, who wrote the report with FIL vp Claire DelNegro

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Romstad tells Around the Rings that he cannot comment on the report until it is publicly released. That could happen later this week after the findings are shared with the parents of Kumaritashvili, who died on a training run crash Feb. 12, the day of opening ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics.

"The report will explain objectively what we believe happened on the final run. The actual event that we believe caused the final outcome was unforeseen and we will attempt to explain why and everything that led up to that specific event," said Romstad in an email to ATR last week.

He says recommendations of the report will go to the FIL executive board or the FIL Congress for approval.

Speed could be one of the factors associated with the crash and already organizers of the Sochi Olympics say they plan to make sure the speed of the track yet to be built is not a hazard to athletes.

Sochi 2014 President Dmitry Chernyshenko goes further to say that even in the case of an accident, no athlete will pay for the mistake with his orher death.

The first death in a FIL-sanctioned competition since 1975, the tragedy at the Whistler Sliding Center was captured on high-definition video and state of the art digital cameras, undoubtedly aiding the forensic inquiry.

Along with the FIL report, other findings of official inquiries are about to be made public. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the British Columbia Coroner’s Office have both investigatedRelatives of Nodar Kumaritashvili have been invited to tthe crash. An official with the coroner’s office says its report is pending the release of the FIL findings.

Vancouver 2010, through its insurance coverage, has provided a cash payment to the family of the 21 year-old luger, the amount undisclosed. FIL has given the family a 10,000 euro donation and established a bank fund to receive contributions.

A track in the name of Kumaritashvili is supposed to be built in his hometown with the support of FIL, the IOC and the Georgian government.

The event has thrust the low-key luge federation into worldwide attention. Based in Berchtesgaden, Germany, the FIL staff works in a headquarters on the edge of the Bavarian village. The FIL roster includes 53 member nations.

Speaking to AP at the conclusion of meetings of the FIL leadership this weekend, Fendt says has invited the father and uncle of Kumaritashvili to visit Berchtesgaden.

"We will always stay in touch with the family. We owe this to them."

Written by Ed Hula.