With the popular social networks providing a major forum the world's leading athletes poured out their hearts in mourning over the death of Georgian Olympic lugar Nodar Kumaritashvili on Friday.

The US Olympic team sent a message via Twitter and Facebook:"Our hearts go out to the family of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who was killed in an accident during a training run at Whistler today."

The most searched list on Twitter had Kumaritashvili's name and videos of his fatal crash appeared quickly on the YouTube portal.

Dutch speed skater Simon Kuipers simply tweeted "RIP" while bobsleigh world champion Steven Holcomb of the US said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the Georgian Olympic team. The

sliding community suffered a tragic and devastating loss to our family today."

A US sportswriter echoed the concerns expressed about the Vancouver track and its dangerous speed by other luge competitors like world supremo Josef Fendt.

Amy Shipley in the Washington Post's Saturday coverage from Vancouver wrote," The continual addition of daredevil extreme sports to the Olympic programme, combined with technological

and physical advancements that push the limits of speed in more traditional winter pursuits, have made the Winter Games an increasingly high-flying circus of terrifying rides, uncontrolled

speeds and, in some cases, pure danger,"

The redesigned halfpipes that have increased from 18 to 22 feet (6 to 7.3 metres.) also were noted with other increased risks for athletes by Amy Shipley.