The death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a high-speed training crash on the Whistler track just hours before last night’s opening ceremonies created a funereal mood around the Winter Games.

“Here you have a young athlete that lost his life in pursuing his passion,’’ Rogge said, after the 21-year-old Kumaritashvili could not be revived after a horrific spill near the end of the run threw him out of the iced concrete track and into an unpadded steel pole. “He had a dream to participate in the Olympic Games. He trained hard and he had this fatal accident. I have no words to say what we feel.’’

Rogge said he conveyed his condolences to Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is here for the Games, as well as to the head of the country’s Olympic Committee.

Rogge also said the IOC would await the results of the international luge federation’s investigation into the accident before commenting further. “This is a time for sorrow,’’ Rogge declared. “It is not a time to look for reasons. That will come in due time.’’

JOHN POWERS