Georgian luge competitor dies after horror crash

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed in a horror crash in training at the Vancouver Winter Olympics last night after he was thrown from his sled at high-speed before smashing into a metal pillar.

"It is a tragedy for his family and the team," said Thomas Bach, the IOC vice-president. "It casts a shadow over the opening ceremony."

The 21-year-old Kumaritashvili suffered the crash during his second training run at one of the fastest points near the bottom of the track at the Whistler Sliding Centre on the final 270-degree turn.

He crashed into both sides of the wall before being hurled over the top of the banking. Witnesses said Kumaritashvili then hit a metal pole on the side after travelling at 148km an hour on a track widely-regarded as the fastest in the sport.

Kumaritashvili, who was knocked unconscious, was immediately placed on a stretcher with blood pouring from his face and airlifted to hospital.

"This is a hard shock and difficult to take in," said Germany's luge legend Georg Hackl who witnessed the crash.

Germany team physio Klaus Alt added: "I feared the worst, he was flung from the track at high speed."

Meanwhile, the head of the Georgia delegation said that they were considering their participation in the Winter Olympics.

"We are all in deep shock, we don't know what to do. We don't know whether to take part in the opening ceremony or even the Olympic Games themselves," Irakly Japaridze said.