POSTED: February 28th 2010
NewsUpdate
Luge Olympians remember fallen comrade Nodar Kumaritashvili with online fundraiser
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT / Sports Features Communications
VANCOUVER, Feb 28: Olympians on the US Luge team have set up an online fundraiser to gather funds for Nodar Kumaritashvili’s family through the Georgian Olympic Committee. The Georgian luge athlete was killed suddenly in a training accident on Feb. 12 right before the opening of the Vancouver Olympics.
The whole ten member team will sign Tony Benshoof’s race suit from the men’s singles event in an effort to raise money through Ebay. Benshoof finished eight in the competition and the proceeds will go directly to the fallen player’s family as a gesture in memory.
IOC president Dr. Jacques Rogge gave a heartfelt dedication to Kumaritashvili and his team mate during the opening and a moment of silence was observed. Also the American sliders wore black ribbons in memory of him on their jackets symbolically pinned by a Republic of Georgia Olympic pin.
"I feel like it’s the least I can do," said Benshoof. "It’s a small contribution, but we hope to collect a fair amount of money for his family.
"There has been lots of conversation about it still," he continued. "Nodar’s memory hangs heavy and it’s the number one topic of conversation. When I meet someone new and tell them what I do, that’s the next question."
Other luge athletes have also reached out with a similar auction like Australian Hannah Campbell-Pegg and she has now almost raised $2,000.
"By auctioning one of our Olympic race suits, we hope we can in some small way show the Kumaritashvili family that Nodar will remain in the hearts and minds of those in the luge community," said USA Luge Team Manager Fred Zimny. "We were saddened by his passing and wanted his family to know that the U.S. Luge Team honors Nodar as a fellow Olympian."
The athletes invite readers to take part in the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290407657152
"Our entire team was saddened by the tragic death of Nodar which occurred on the same day as the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Games," continued Zimny. "The luge community is a tight knit group of people and everyone knows everyone else. Nodar was part of that family and he will be missed by all."
"It’s a small way to show our respect to a fallen friend," concluded Zimny.
Keywords · Nodar Kumaritashvili · US Luge · Vancouver 2010
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Laura Walden ()
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