Private service held in Vancouver for Georgian Olympian killed in luge crash last week

Service held for Georgian luger killed in crash

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A private service has been held for the Georgian Olympic athlete killed in a luge crash before his body is returned to his homeland.

Several Georgian athletes and team officials, as well as international and Vancouver organizers, attended the brief service Monday for Nodar Kumaritashvili at a Vancouver funeral home. The brown casket was placed in a gray hearse and was driven away with a police escort of 14 motorcycles.

Later in the day, the body was to be taken on a flight to Germany and then flown to Georgia on Wednesday for burial in his hometown of Bukuriani.

The 21-year-old luger died in a crash during training Friday hours before the opening ceremony.