( CNN ) -- The Winter Olympics has been hit by tragedy after the death of a Georgian competitor following a crash during training for the high-speed luge event -- the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) and the Georgian Embassy have confirmed . Nodar Kumaritashvili , 21 , was on the final corner of the course during official training when he had a `` serious crash '' and was propelled off the track at the Whistler Sliding Center in Vancouver , Canada , according to the IOC . `` Our first thoughts are with the family , friends and colleagues of the athlete . The whole Olympic Family is struck by this tragedy , which clearly casts a shadow over these Games '' , IOC President Jacques Rogge said in a statement . `` 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 '' , added John Furlong of VANOC , the Games Organizing Committee . In the same statement , International Luge Federation President Josef Fendt said : `` This is a terrible accident . `` This is the gravest thing that can happen in sport , and our thoughts and those of the 'luge family ' , are naturally with those touched by this event . '' The luge event is one of the most dangerous in sport , with competitors sliding down an icy track on a sledge , while steering with their legs , at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour . Kumaritashvili was not considered one of the favorites to win a medal and was ranked 44th in the world . However , earlier in practice , gold medal favorite Armin Zoggeler of Italy also lost control and crashed on curve 11 , although he was able to walk away from the incident . The accident came just hours before the Games officially started with a lavish opening ceremony on Friday evening .
The Winter Olympics are hit by tragedy after the death of a competitor . Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia was killed suring a training crash for luge event . Comment: