Russian luge team coach Mikhail Zavyalov has blamed the death of a Georgian luger just before the opening ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver on competition organizers.
"The sportsman is not to blame at all," Zavyalov told RIA Novosti on the phone. "The people holding the competition are to blame, as they failed to ensure conditions for him not to flip over."
Zavyalov said a special commission of the International Olympic Committee established to look into the incident could introduce changes in competition regulations.
"A conference is already underway, they are trying to find out [why the incident occurred]," he said, adding that Kumaritashvili's death was unprecedented.
Kumaritashvili, 21, lost control of his sled during his second training run on the track and flipped over the side, crashing into a steel pole. He was taken to hospital but doctors were unable to save his life.
The Olympic luge track in Whistler is considered to be one of the world's fastest and has already raised safety concerns among sports officials. Several other lugers crashed at the site on Friday during training, which has seen speeds in excess of 90 mph.
Georgia's sport minister said his country will participate in the Games despite the tragedy although earlier reports suggested the South Caucasus country could withdraw from the competitions following the deadly accident.
International Luge Federation (FIL) President Josef Fendt said earlier the luger's death is "the gravest thing in sport," and Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, called it a tragedy overshadowing the 2010 Winter Olympics.
MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti)
