HIGHLIGHTS OF SLEDDING AND FIL HISTORY

First international sled contest. Competitors from Australia, England, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland started on the 12th of February in Switzerland on a 4-km road between Davos and Klosters. The ex aequo winners: the Australian student Georg ROBERTSON and the mailman Peter MINSCH from Klosters - both within the time of 9 minutes and 15 seconds.

Austria, Germany and Switzerland founded the "Internationaler Schlittensportverband" (International Sled Sport Federation) in Dresden/ Germany.

1st European Championships in Reichenberg (at that time Kingdom of Bohemia, today Liberec/ Czech Republic). The first European Champions: Rudolf KAUSCHKA/ Reichenberg, Karl LÖBEL and Erwin POSSELT, double seater/ Gablonz (today Jablobnec/ Czech Republic).

New founding of the "Internationaler Schlittensportverband" (International Sled Sport Federation) in Dresden/ Germany. The members: "Deutscher Rodelbund" (German Sled Sport Federation), "Deutscher Bobverband" (German Bobsleigh Federation), "Verband Deutscher Schlittensportvereine in der Tschechoslowakei" (Federation of German Sled Sport Associations in Czechoslovakia) and "Österreichischer Schlittensportverband" (Austrian Sled Sport Federation).

2nd European Championships - for the first time with a women's class - in Schreiberhau/ Germany (today Szklarska Poreba/ Poland). Hilde RAUPACH/ Schreiberhau becomes first female European Champion.

As "Section de Luge", the "Internationaler Schlittensportverband", now named "Internationaler Rodelsportverband" (International Luge Federation) joins the "International Bobsleigh Federation" (Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing/ FIBT), founded in Paris in 1923.

Resolution at the congress of the "International Olympic Committee/ IOC" at Athens/ Greece: luge on artificial track is to replace skeleton as an olympic discipline.

1st World Championships on Artificial Track in Oslo/ Norway at the Holmenkollen with lugers from 8 nations. The first World Champions: Karla KIENZL/ Austria, Anton SALVESEN/ Norway, Hans KRAUSNER and Josef THALER/ Austria.

Foundation of the "International Luge Federation" (Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course/ FIL) on the 25th of January in Davos/ Switzerland with delegates from 13 nations. Bert Isatitsch from Rottenmann/ Austria is the first president elected. At the congress of the "International Olympic Committee/ IOC" in Sofia/ Bulgaria, the FIL joins the IOC.

Luge competitions are to be included in the program of the IXth Olympic Winter Games in 1964 in Innsbruck/ Austria. This resolution is passed at the congress of the "International Olympic Committee/ IOC" in Munich/ Germany.

1st World Championships on Natural Track at Inzing/ Austria. The winners are: Delia VAUDAN/ Italy, Werner PRANTL/ Austria, Damiano LUGON and Andrea MILLET/ Italy.

1st Junior World Championships on Artificial Track in Lake Placid/ USA. The winners are: Elena BUSLAEVA/ Soviet Union, Hans-Joachim SCHURACK/ German Democratic Republic, Jörg HOFFMANN and Jochen PIETZSCH/ German Democratic Republic.

Bert ISATITSCH from Rottenmann/ Austria, President of the FIL since its foundation in 1957, is re-elected for four years during the 38th FIL Congress in Albertville/ France.

New elections are postponed to 1994. This was confirmed at the 42nd FIL Congress in Innsbruck/ Austria. The reason for this is the changed Olympic Winter Games rotation. In future, there will be new elections every four years again - and this, always after Olympic Winter Games.

On the 8th of February, President Bert ISATITSCH from Rottenmann/ Austria dies unexpectedly. He was at the top of the FIL since its foundation in 1957. Josef FENDT from Berchtesgaden/ Germany, who was Vice-President for Sport until then, becomes Acting President. At the 43rd FIL Congress in Rome/ Italy, Josef FENDT from Berchtesgaden/ Germany is elected new President.

45th FIL Congress in Ancient Olympia/ Greece.

At the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan, luge competitions are on the program for the tenth time. Josef Fendt is confirmed for the second time as FIL President at the 46th Congress in Colorado Springs (USA). India and Venezuela are accepted as full members. Participation in the congress is a record 32 member federations.

At the 47th Congress in Salzburg (AUT), the FIL makes a new attempt at having natural track luge accepted in the program of the Olympic Winter Games. The program for free-training run vouchers is introduced for artificial track. Björn Walden (SWE) is named honorary member.

The revised statutes of the FIL are approved at the 48th Congress in Oberhof (GER). Brazil becomes a full member, raising the number of members to 42, along with three provisional members. Motions before the congress to amend the International Luge Regulations (IRO) must from now on receive a 2/3 majority in the expert commissions.

At the 49th Congress in Warsaw, President Josef Fendt characterizes the support and development program in artificial and natural track as the “showpiece” of the FIL. The world federation devotes around 500,000 euro annually to support national federations and individual development programs. Argentina becomes a full member of the FIL.

A maximum number of 110 athletes according to the FIL’s quota participate in the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. Taking part are 26 national federations, 16 receiving financial support under the “Olympic Solidarity” program. President Josef Fendt wins the election over his opponent Dwight Bell (USA) with 29 to 13 votes at the 50th Congress in St. Wolfgang (AUT) at which a record number of 43 member countries participate. General Secretary Svein Romstad and Harald Steyrer are confirmed in their positions, the latter as Vice President of Finance. The social highpoint of this anniversary congress is a ceremonial act. Honorary member Baron Eduard von Falz-Fein is awarded the FIL’s medal in gold with diamonds. In August, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejects the FIL’s request to have the natural track sport accepted in the Olympic Program for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turino.

The 51st Congress returns to the roots of the sport of luge: Davos was the venue for the first luge competition in 1883; in 1957 luge athletes separated from the FIBT and established the FIL. Margit Schumann (GER), 1976 Olympic champion and four-time world champion, Paul Hildgartner (ITA), 1976 Olympic champion in doubles and 1984 Olympic champion in singles, Klaus Bonsack (GER), 1968 Olympic champion in doubles, are all inducted into the newly-created Hall of Fame.

Nagano is the first Asian host for FIL World Championships. In addition, the congress is held for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere: Rio de Janeiro (BRA) is the site of the 52nd Congress. Croatia becomes a full member of the FIL. President Fendt celebrates his 10th anniversary in office. When he took office, the FIL’s budget was approximately 800,000 euro; ten years later total outlays are four times this amount; he reports that prize money to active competitors and athlete subsidies have grown by more than 400 percent. Josef Feistmantl (AUT), 1954 Olympic champion and 1969 world champion, as well as Hans Rinn (GER), 1976 Olympic champion in doubles and three-time world champion, are inducted into the Hall of Fame becoming the newest members.

Vice-President Jan Steler is honored at the 53rd Congress in Cesana for his 50 years of voluntary work. Australia again receives full member status in the FIL.

Josef Fendt from Berchtesgaden is unanimously reelected as FIL President for the third time at the 54th Congress held in his hometown. In a runoff vote for the position of Vice-President, Harald Steyrer is the clear winner over his opponent Geoff Balme (New Zealand). Dr. Thomas Bach, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) praises the FIL as a reliable partner of the IOC. The FIL is considered for the first time for an IOC body when President Fendt joins the commission on “Sport and Environment.”

On the occasion of its 50th birthday, the FIL meets in Innsbruck for its 55th congress. A total of three commemorative books provide a retrospective on the FIL’s history. A ceremony is held at which Leo Wallner (AUT), President of the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC), Rene Fasel (SUI), President of the International Ice Hockey Federation and AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations) as well as member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Robert Storey (CAN), President of World Bob & Skeleton Federation honor the FIL. Vera Sosulia, 1980 Olympic champion, is inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In Calgary (CAN) the FIL adopts the rules for the newly-created team relay competition to be included in the IRO. The goal is to move up this innovative competition into the program for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Sochi, Russia.

The congress of the International Luge Federation (FIL) held in Liberec (CZE) awards the 44th FIL World Championships for 2013 to the “Whistler Sliding Center.” Turkey and Tonga from Oceania are accepted as member countries. As a result, the FIL now has 52 member countries from four continents.

Josef Fendt is reelected for the fourth time as President of the International Luge Federation (FIL). At the 58th FIL congress in Sochi, Russia, delegates from 32 member federations unanimously confirm the 62-year-old Fendt from Berchtesgaden, Germany, by acclamation as the leader of the Olympic federation. General Secretary Svein Romstad (USA) and Harald Steyrer (AUT) are also unanimously reelected, the latter as Vice-President of Finance. Also confirmed in their posts are Einars Fogelis (LAT) as Vice-President for Technical Affairs, and Claire DelNegro (USA) as Vice-President Sport. In the natural track segment, the delegates elect Herbert Wurzer (AUT) as Vice-President Sport to succeed Werner Kropsch, deceased. Alfred Jud (ITA) is confirmed in his office as Vice-President for Technical Affairs (natural track).