The representatives of Georgian national Olympic committee remembers Nodar Kumaritashvili, who lost his life in a fatal crash during a training run for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The tragedy occurred in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada just before the official opening on February 12, 2010.
The official of Georgian Olympic committee while remembering luger stated, “ 15 years have passed since the great tragedy that occurred at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. These games began tragically for Georgia, which shocked the entire world. A few hours before the official opening ceremony of the games, on February 12, during a test run on the Whistler luge track, Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a fatal accident.”
The luger Nodar was one of the outstanding members of Georgian team and an athlete with great prospects. The President of the European Olympic Committees Spyros Kapralos, the President of the Georgian Olympic Committee Leri Khabelov, the Deputy Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Shota Khabareli paid tribute to him.
The other who express solidarity with family includes the names of Chairman of the Bakuriani 2025 Organizing Committee, Mamuka Khabareli the Head of the Bakuriani Development Agency, Ekaterine Orjonikidze members of the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees, other heads of the European Olympic Committee, Bakuriani 2025 clergymen and media representatives visited Nodar’s grave and paid tribute to his memory.
They spoke with Nodar’s family members and relatives and toured the memorial museum as well. The President of the European Olympic Committees, Spyros Kapralos, announced the establishment of the Nodar Kumaritashvili Awards, which will be presented to the best female and male athletes of the festival at the closing ceremony of the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival in Bakuriani.
The decision to name the awards after Kumaritashvili was made by the European Olympic Committees, together with the National Olympic Committee of Georgia and the Bakuriani winter games 2025 Organizing Committee.
The official said that the Georgia Olympic committee and the International Olympic movement will always be united in their commitment for immortalizing the name of Nodar Kumaritashvili and paying tribute to his memory.
