Georgian Luger's Relatives Angry

They sent him to the Winter Olympics a sporting hero — they saw him return to his Georgian home village in a coffin.

The body of Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili arrived at his family home nestling in the mountain forests of Bakuriani on Wednesday.

His father David, a former luger, says he can't bear to watch the video of his son's fatal accident that's been broadcast around the world.

[David Kumaritashvili, Father]:
"He was sliding very well up to that point. He was doing very well and he had trained on that track before. He had told me that that segment was very difficult. He was not afraid but he said 'father, that segment is very difficult'. He wasn't afraid, he was very strong."

The International Luge Federation and the Games organisers said the track was safe and blamed the tragedy on human error.

Even so, they subsequently raised the barrier at the fatal bend and shortened the track to cut its speed.

Kumaritashvili's family and friends in Georgia are still angry about the manner of his death and Canada's response to it.

[Givi Panjakidze, family friend]:
"Every sportsman makes mistakes but the mistake shouldn't result in death. This is sport, not gladiators. Certainly there was a problem but whatever mistake was made he shouldn't have been thrown out of the track."

Kumaritashvili's death cast a shadow over the Games and it's not the only problem for the Canadian organisers.

Heavy snowfall has forced a re-shuffle of the schedule for the men's Alpine skiing events.

It's the latest setback after the past week spent battling against the effects of warm winter temperatures and rain.