体坛英语新闻：IOC has "moral responsibility" for luger death: Rogge

VANCOUVER, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) accepts "moral responsibility" but not legal responsibility for the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, said IOC president Jacques Rogge on Thursday.

"The IOC is not legally bound to the track," he said. "We are morally responsible. Our responsibility is to make sure that no unnecessary risks are taken. There will always be risk in sport, but it has to be reasonable and the athletes take a lot of risk themselves," said Rogge.

Rogge noted the death of Kumaritashvili will forever be associated with the Vancouver Games, just as the killing of Israeli athletes remains a legacy of the Munich Olympics.

To the IOC chief, 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 believed that Kumaritashivili's death "will be a part of the games just as what happened in Munich is part of the games."

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

"The IOC has been very clear in saying to the Russians: Please deliver us a track that will not be hazardous," Rogge said.