Luger’s death dampens celebration at Olympic opening ceremony

Luge death dims opening ceremony mood

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The mood in the Olympic world was far from what organizers hoped for heading into the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Games.

The death of a men’s luger from the country of Georgia after a horrific training-run crash assured a muted start to the games.

While protesters and rain clouds gathered outside, ticketholders are beginning to fill Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium for the evening extravaganza. It will be the first Olympic opening or closing ceremony ever held indoors. Rain is forecast through the weekend in the city, with high temperatures near 50 degrees. That has prompted some to dub these the Spring Olympics.

The luger’s death is expected to be observed during the ceremony.