Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili

Photo by: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/EPA

I would like to send my sincerest condolences to the family, friends and countrymen of Olympic luger Nodar Kumaritashvili. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

I have had the opportunity to associate with a few Georgians. These experiences have all been positive. They are a warm and hospitable people known for their cuisine. Though often quitet and reserved they are also feisty, courageous, and competitive. Located in the tumultuous caucus region south of Russia conflict is something with which Georgians are well acquainted.

Nodar was twenty-one years old born in Georgia, which was then part of the Soviet Union. The son of a luger, Nodar’s first season of competitive luge was in 2008. Still very young in the sport he was ranked 44th out of 65 lugers. His death was a tragedy for everyone.

Questions remain surrounding the accident. Was the track to dangerous? Should the wall have been erected sooner? What could the IOC and Luge Federation have done to prevent this? The answer, I don’t know. What I do know is that something should have been done.

I am not trying to point blame, but even more than medals at Olympic Games, we want everyone to return home. The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili may have stated it best when he said, “One thing I know for sure is that no sports mistake is supposed to lead to a death. No sports mistake is supposed to be fatal.”

Hopefully, the IOC and the world can reevaluate our priorities because this is not about a luger dying in a very dangerous sport. This is about a son not returning to his father’s arms.