On Sunday, Svein Romstad, Secretary-General of International Luge Federation, suggested that human error is to blame for the tragic accident that took the life of a Georgian luger during a practice run in Vancouver on Friday. Nodar Kumaritashvili, 21, died last week after he last control of his sled, went over a track wall and struck an unpadded steel pole — head first — near the finish line.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili also cited a “mistake” on the athlete’s part as playing a role in his own death. The politician played down suggestions that the lightening speed of the Olympic track contributed to the accident and pooh-poohed declarations that the luger was a novice –arguing that Nodar was from a sporting family.