Teammate of killed luger from republic of Georgia withdraws from Olympic race

Teammate of killed luger doesn’t slide

WHISTLER, British Columbia — The teammate of the luger killed in Olympic training has withdrawn from the Vancouver Games.

Levan Gureshidze was on the official start list for the competition that began at the Whistler Sliding Center on Saturday night, one day after teammate Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a training crash.

Gureshidze, though, decided not to compete. He also decided to pass on Saturday morning’s training sessions, during which he was seen at the track wearing a black armband.

A moment of silence was held at the track before the start of Saturday’s competition in memory of Kumaritashvili, whose photo was displayed on the video scoreboard in the finish-line area.