VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Georgian slider Nodar Kumaritashvili died Friday during the final training session at the Whistler Sliding Centre, the IOC said.
Kumaritashvili, 21, crashed on the last corner of the course during training.
The IOC statement said doctors were unable to revive him and he died at a Vancouver hospital.
"This is a terrible accident," said International Luge Federation President Josef Fendt. "This is the gravest thing that can happen in sport."
"We are deeply struck by this tragedy and join the IOC in extending our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of this athlete, who came to Vancouver to follow his Olympic dream," said John Furlong, the CEO of VANOC, the Games Organizing Committee.
The IOC added an investigation is under way into the circumstances of Kumaritashvili's accident and that training was suspended with technical officials trying to establish the causes.
