Thousands attend funeral of Georgian luger

BAKURIANI, Georgia, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Authorities say thousands gathered Saturday in Bakuriani, Georgia, to remember Nodar Kumaritashvili, the luger killed during a training run at the Olympics.

Kumaritashvili, 21, flew off the track in Whistler, Canada, and into metal pillars hours before opening ceremonies at the Winter Games in Vancouver.

Kumaritashvili was a sports celebrity in Georgia, where thousands gathered for the funeral and family members and friends joined Saturday for a traditional funeral feast, the BBC reported.

"I wanted to throw a wedding feast for you. Instead we have a funeral," the BBC reported the athlete's father, David Kumaritashvili, as saying as he gazed at a portrait of his son in their home.

Kumaritashvili's family said they blamed no one for his death, while Georgian Olympic officials have said lax safety standards on the track caused the accident.

After his death, Olympic officials reduced the track's average speed by lowering the start gate to the one used for the women's competition.