Gennady Rodionov, from the Russian Luge Federation, who are working with Sochi on the designs of the track admitted that they would be taking no risks.

He told the Associated Press: "For the whole luge family, it's hard to bear what has happened.

"We're extra cautious in our calculations, analysing everything."

Valery Silakov, the former Russian team head coach and now federation President, said the track will still be "technically very demanding."

Designs are being finished by Udo Gurgel, the veteran German engineer who also created the Whistler course.

Rodionov and Silakov spoke outside of International Luge Federation (FIL) meetings that helped complete the sport's investigation into Kumaritashvili's fatal crash on the $110 million (£71 million) Whistler track, which proved faster than intended.

The 21-year-old Georgian lost control of his sled on the final curve at nearly 90 miles per hour and was thrown clear of the ice before slamming into a trackside steel support pillar.

Luge leaders, who will deliver their investigation report on Monday to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), are determined to restrict racers to 85mph at Sochi.

FIL president Josef Fendt said he wanted to avoid repeating the experience at Whistler, where the track proved faster than when it opened in 2008.

Fendt told Associated Press: "We need this speed limit while planning a track; we can't do anything when a track is already being built."

Fendt raised his concerns about plans for Sochi more than year ago, weeks after Germany's Felix Loch clocked almost 96 mph during a test event at Whistler.

Loch would eventually win Olympic gold.

Fendt said: "That was the reason I sent that letter to Sochi after hearing they were planning to build not only the most difficult, but the fastest track as well.

"The [Sochi] track was designed for speed over [89 mph].

"That was too much in our opinion."

Luge officials are planning visit the proposed sliding centre, which also will stage Olympic bobsled and skeleton racing, in the mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana.

The venue is 24 miles from the Black Sea city of Sochi, which hosts the FIL Congress scheduled in June.

Rodionov said: "We will be able to show the site.

"We will invite people from Government as well and lots of media."


Related stories
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March 2010: Dead luger's family to receive insurance payout from Vancouver 2010 policy
February 2010: Nodar Kumaritashvili buried in Georgia
February 2010: Body of Kumaritashvili flown home from Vancouver to Georgia
February 2010: Georgian to blame for death claims Sir Clive Woodward