The news of Nodar Kumaritashviliv's death struck the world just hours before the official opening ceremonies in Vancouver. Today, the lugers started at the women's starting point, but one athlete, to filled with sorrow, just could not compete.
Just minutes before Nodar Kumaritashvili launched himself down the luge track in Whistler for the training run that would bring a sudden and violent end to his life, the Georgian athlete called his parents.
The 21-year-old said he planned to make them proud.
What a terrible accident to cast a shadow over the otherwise exciting Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Today, the grief was too much for some to bare.
WHISTLER - They were fast friends in the fastest of winter sports. They grew up together in the in the town of Borjomi in the thick of the Georgian mountains. They were classmates and training partners; a couple of 21-year-olds eager to test their skills at their first Olympics.
Luge was their sport, their passion.
And now Nodar Kumaritashviliv is gone and his buddy Levan Gureshidzev has become a man so wracked with sorrow he couldn't bring himself to do what they both loved.
Every competitor in Saturday night's opening runs of the men's singles event wore a strip of black tape on the left side of their helmet. It was a symbolic tribute to Mr. Kumaritashvili, who lost control Friday morning coming out of the left side of curve 16 and was catapulted from his sled into a metal pole.
But Mr. Gureshidze wore no stripe, no helmet, no spandex outfit. He was listed on the start sheet but did not compete as the 38th racer down the same track that claimed his teammate. Instead, he laid a bouquet of flowers at curve 16. How do you slide when your friend is gone and so many grieve his loss? It was a question left to others to explain.
"It was a tough run today, for sure," said Canadian Sam Edney. "For me, personally, I really felt like I was sliding with Nodar today."
"All of us," added Japan's Takahisa Oguchi, "don't want to forget our friend."
Some day, as Mr. Sakashvili predicted, they will build a sliding track in Georgia and name it in honour of their lost luger. But for Mr. Gureshidze, it was all too much, too soon so he left; the flowers at curve 16 the only proof that he was ever here.
Photo from Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
This news is so sad. What upsets me more is that right after the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, CTV aired the footage of his last run and crash which killed him. I found it extremely distasteful, appauling and inconsiderate.
I personally, feel that such footage should NOT be aired on television. I do understand that people want the news, the facts, and the ability to choose to see such footage, however, I didn't get that choice, it was aired and I saw it. The sound, the image, the memory is now etched in my brain and it is quite disturbing.
I feel that such things, if available at all, should be available online for those who choose to see it, not broadcast on the most watched news immediately following the Olympics Opening Ceremonies.
I had perma-goosebumps, shed more tears than I care to admit and overall just LOVED every second of the Winter Olympic Games opening Ceremonies in Vancouver.
No, I wasn't down town, I was comfy, cozy on my couch with my husband and kiddo enjoying the show on the big screen.
Part of me would have liked to be downtown and perhaps see the legendary Wayne Gretzky cruise by with the torch, but the angles, commentary, High-definition and comfort of my own home was most enjoyable.
I did tweet throughout so scroll down and you can get my own play-by-play.
I also twitpict screen caps from my television to go with comments about the show.
I have to say I can't recall a time that I have felt so excited and proud to be Canadian.
From the light show to the amazing audience participation with lights and movement, to the whales that seemingly swam across the floor where giant trees then grew and mountains stood.... the effects were amazing.
The talented performers such as KD Lang, Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado and Ashley McIsaac moved me and made me remember how many amazing and talented artists are Canadian.
Dancers and Singers and Fiddlers and Athletes and Dignitaries all shared the stage and it was truly memorable.
There were so many awesome moments and I am so excited to have the 2010 Olympics Here.
My excitement has been slowly mounting but after the torch relay running by my house, then Grouse Mountain, the Opening Ceremonies peaked my excitment and now I plan to just treasure this amazing experience.
If you missed the Opening Ceremonies I encourage you to find it online as there were some amazing performances and effects and it was such a special event.
I really loved Shane Koyczan "We are More" where he defines Canadians. I don't want VANOC on my ass so here is a youtube video of him (not at the olympic ceremony, but the same poem, though his pace tonight was much more emotional and moving) The transcript is below the video.
When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we've got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world's anthem has been
" been there done that"
and maybe that's where we used to be at
it's true
we've done and we've been
we've seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don't forget to mention that we have set sparks
we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say "eh?"
and yes
we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you're welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today
filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like "someday"
someday we'll be great
someday we'll be this
or that
someday we'll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday
we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through
and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don't have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you've been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
" keep exploring... we are more"
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it's true
Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"
so don't say "been there done that"
unless you've sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don't say you've been there done that
unless you've been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
It is sad news that casts a sad shadow over what is bringing cheer and excitement to the city of Vancouver and the entire world.
Just hours before the official opening ceremonies, Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died after what is being called a "horrific accident."
Nodar Kumaritashvili went flying off the Olympic luge track at high speed during training practice. He smashed into a metal pillar and was knocked unconscious. He was air-lifted out on stretcher covered in blood and was later pronounced dead.
Some news sources had photos of the injured luger right before his death plastered all over websites, a move that seems quite disrespectful and reminds me of the horror I felt when Michael Jackson's photos on stretcher with air-mask were released.
Kumaritashvili is from Borjomi, a resort town of 15,000 on the Georgian south. The area was an early candidate for the 2014 Winter Games that eventually went to Sochi, Russia.
Coaches and team captains have been told to expect an announcement from the IOC and luge federation by 6 p.m. ET tonight. Meanwhile, the RCMP had begun investigating the crash site, virtually locking down the facility to accredited media.
This is the third known competition or training death at a Winter Olympics. Both previous deaths occurred at the 1964 Winter Games in Innsbruck and one of them came in luge.
With opening ceremonies on a few hours away, it is so sad to have such a terrible accident occur and I sincerely hope the other lugers honour him. There are no words to really deal with this except emotional saddness from the world looking on.
Photo from Doug Pensinger/Getty Images 
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