Nodar Kumaritashvili Funeral: Luger To Be Buried In Georgia (PHOTOS)

Nodar Kumaritashvili Funeral: Luger To Be Buried In Georgia (PHOTOS)

Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Georgian Olympian who died in a horrifying luge crash in Vancouver, was laid to rest in his hometown today. (WARNING: link contains deeply upsetting images.) According to the AP, thousands mourned the 21-year-old's passing in Bakuriani.

Inside, the body lay in a coffin, surrounded by Orthodox Christian icons and burning candles. A small choir sang Georgian chants and a portrait of the athlete hung on the wall.

His father, David Kumaritashvili, stared at the portrait somberly and said: "I wanted to throw a wedding feast for you. Instead, we have a funeral."

A wake was held for Kumaritashvili earlier in the week, following a memorial in Vancouver.

On Thursday it was reported that a former Olympian warned officials about safety hazards on the luge track where Kumaritashvili was killed. Before his death, the Georgian confided in his father that the track terrified him.

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