# @offside on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CZQAytWL9lP
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/12401392-offside-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/4820e1f0eb0f9fcf82ec0d211c7c13ff69ba72f1d6d626ae943ad03d44b9e977.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-01-27T22:25:09.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Offside (@offside) — https://gondola.cc/offside

## Caption

Twelve years after his cousin died tragically on the opening day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Saba Kumaritashvili will compete in Beijing.

Saba is one of nine athletes from Georgia that have qualified for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. He’ll compete in the sport of luge, the same sliding sport his cousin Nodar died while doing during a training run in Whistler on February 12, 2010 — hours before the Opening Ceremony at BC Place in Vancouver.

Former IOC President Jacques Rogge said it “clearly casts a shadow over these Games” in a statement back in 2010.

Saba is 21 years old, the same age as Nodar was back in 2010, and is making his Olympic debut.

Kumaritashvili is dedicating his Olympic performance in Beijing to Nodar, according to Georgian television station Mtavari Channel.

“I feel a great responsibility to Nodar, my family and Georgia that after Nodar Kumaritashvili I should also participate in the Olympics,” Saba told Georgian website Sport4me.ge. “Before each run… I think about Nodar; it strengthens me more and gives me triple motivation.”

We wish saba_kuma the best of luck. 🙏

Let us know if you'll be watching the #BeijingOlympics in the comments below 👇#dailyhiveoffside

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## Tags

dailyhiveoffside, beijingolympics

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