More than one tragedy

What happened before the opening ceremonies in Vancouver was terrible. What's transpiring now is inexcusable.

Last Friday, Georgian luge olympian Nodar Kumaritashvili lost his life in a tragic crash during his final training run before the Vancouver games.

Speculation immediately began that the track was too fast, and the metal support beam Kumaritashvili slammed into should have been guarded.

Waiting for an appropriate response, I read that Luge Federation officials said the accident was "extremely exceptional" and caused due to Kumaritashvili's failure to compensate after coming out late from the previous curve, not by "deficiencies in the track".

The same track that ESPN.com reported Kumaritashvili had trained at before and told his father one day prior to his death he was terrified of the turn that took his life.

The same track where a wooden wall was placed to cover the row of steel beams that killed Kumaritashvili and a course the federation decided to move 600 feet further down the hill following the accident to slow down the speed of the riders.

The fact is Kumaritashvili flew down a track considered to be the fastest in the world at 90 mph when he was thrown into a steel pole and the 21-year-old olympian lost his life.

I don't know if Kumaritashvili's death could have been avoided. I just think in a dangerous sport like luge, there has to be a point where being the "fastest" track crosses a line that protects the safety of these riders.

I think the federation crossed this line and failed miserably in their inexcusable response by blaming Kumaritashvili.

photos by Associated Press