John Furlong heartbroken over luger's death

13 April 2012

Vancouver Olympics chief John Furlong has spoken of his heartbreak over the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, claiming he felt as if he had lost his own son.

The 21-year-old died after crashing in a training run last week, casting a shadow over the opening of the Games - which was dedicated to his memory.

The Vancouver Organising Committee (VANOC) have faced widespread condemnation over the accident, but chief executive Furlong defended his organisation after recalling his shock at first hearing of the tragedy.

He told BBC Sport: "The day that happened was as heartbreaking a thing (as could happen), and I would say it was probably the only scenario that we were unprepared for. I was - I got that call that morning and I felt like I had a phone call saying that my son had been killed.

"As an organising committee we were mortified. The entire organisation, all 50,000 of us, went back on our heels and tried to figure out how we would manage from here.

"We tried to get up, the public cheered us on and you saw what happened in the stadium, I think the ceremonies were a fantastic night. We tried very hard to recognise that this young man came here with a dream in his heart and we wanted him to be a success, we wanted him to go home with his dream fulfilled so he could inspire his country.

"It didn't happen and we're trying to make the best of it, and we will make the best of it, but some things happen that are outside your control. That's one matter that we've been fighting, we all regret what occurred on the track that day.

"There's plenty of time to talk about the track when the Games are over. The way the track is put together is a very complex process, VANOC and the IOC work in collaboration to deliver the venue that is designed.

"We went through that process and we built the track that everybody wanted us to build and we wanted to build. We had World Cups on it, we had practices on it, we had thousands of runs down the track.

"After the World Cups, the federations would tell us 'we'd like a modification here, a modification there', so of course we're going to do that. Our team have done everything they can to try to give them the venue that they wanted for the Games."

VANOC were also ridiculed over problems lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony and subsequently difficulties spectators had viewing it due to a security fence erected around it.

Tickets also had to be refunded for snowboarding events - at a cost to VANOC of 400,000 Canadian dollars (£245,000) - as snow was washed away, leaving viewing areas on Cypress Mountain unsafe, but Furlong went on the offensive over those criticisms.

"The fact that we've had the warmest January ever since we've been recording temperatures, it goes back 100 years - okay, well it's happening, what are we going to do about it?" he continued.

"We have fought the snow demons on that mountain and I think we're winning. There are some things we've had to do to protect the field of play, so that the athletes get to complete their competitions and have their Olympic dream.

"I think it's too bad that people see it otherwise, we don't and frankly we're a little bit offended that they have taken the position they have."

On the flame issues, he said: "At the opening ceremonies, there was a moment but it was pretty minor and it was a metaphor for the day, for me - we were all feeling a little different that we thought we might.

"In order to put the cauldron where we did, we had to make sure we weren't going to compromise security for the building. Once we saw that (restricted view) was happening, we were trying to find a way to create a remedy and we've done that now, there's a wonderful viewing gallery right beside it and there's a space in the fence so you can take all the pictures you want."

There was also a problem with barriers which collapsed at an open-air gig staged to celebrate the Games in Vancouver's Yaletown district when at least 20 people were injured , including nine taken to hospital, but Furlong preferred to take a positive line about the event overall.

He concluded: "We want the athletes to leave here with a great experience and I think they're going to. The venues have become extraordinary theatres for sport.

"The Games were intended to let Canada come together. The euphoria in the streets of Vancouver is extraordinary but it's not just here, people (across Canada) are excited by the Olympic Games.

"People are excited and the athletes are loving every minute. The Olympic spirit is really alive in these venues."

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