Jacques Rogge says IOC has ‘moral responsibility’ for death of Georgian luger

Rogge: IOC has ‘moral responsibility’ for death

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — IOC president Jacques Rogge says the death of a Georgian luger will forever be associated with the Vancouver Games, just as the slaying of Israeli athletes remains a legacy of the Munich Olympics.

Rogge says the International Olympic Committee accepts “moral responsibility” but not legal responsibility for the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili.

The IOC chief says the training crash death will always cast a shadow over the Vancouver Olympics, but should be taken separately from the overall success of the games.

Rogge said Thursday that Kumaritashivili’s death “will be a part of the games just as what happened in Munich is part of the games.”

Rogge has urged Russian organizers to make sure the sliding track is safe for the 2014 Sochi Games.