Countries Come Together.... in Outrage?

The day before the Vancouver Olympic Games began, a luger from Georgia (the country, ladies and gentlemen) was fatally injured during a practice run. Nodar Kumaritashvill, a 21 year old, died going 88 mph on the most difficult luge track developed for any Olympic Games. I found this video, which is an interview that outlines the danger behind the winter games:



The day before this interview took place, the US luge team was interviewed and discussed the difficulty of the luge course. They complained that it was too fast, to steep, and too difficult, especially for the number of young, less experienced lugers. The US was not the only country to speak out either. With the death of the Georgian olympian, nations have banded together in an attempt to have Canada alter the track to decrease risk of injury.

In the video, Mariotti discusses that Nodar was going slower during his fatal run than early practice runs, having crashed the day before. Even trying to go slower than competitive speed, Nodar's loss of control resulted in the loss of his life. The interview also outlines the response (or lack of) from the Canadian Olympic Council.

There was talk of postponing and even canceling the opening ceremonies. How could the world celebrate the games when they have been shadowed with a death? Even so, nations rallied behind and mutually mourned the loss of the luger. The opening ceremonies were dedicated to Nodar, and there was a moment of silence to honor the athlete. We might all want to win the gold, but no athlete present at the games wants another athlete to get hurt in the attempt. The loss of a life was a tragedy, and it casts a depressing light on the luge events. All nations respect and honor the fallen competitor.

Now that I have established the unity of nations during this Olympic event...
Has anyone ever heard of the death of an Olympian before the games started? Unless an athlete is from one's own country, do you really care if an alternate showed up instead of the original athlete? Though I have yet to research this (coming soon!) I am sure there have been athletes that have died within their own countries' borders before the games are even advertised. We do not share a moment of silence for these athletes. No, we are too busy worrying about our economy and which country we must protect ourselves against next. And while this is completely understandable (out of sight, out of mind, right?) it is curious that something as macabre as the death of a country's hero can bring together all types of people to one cause: honor the fallen.