FIL President Josef Fendt celebrates 70th birthday

Berchtesgaden (RWH) The president of the International Luge Federation (FIL), Josef Fendt from Berchtesgaden, has celebrated his 70th birthday on Friday 6 October. Fendt has devoted almost his entire life to the sport of luge, initially as an athlete who clinched two World Championship titles (1970 and 1974) and an Olympic silver medal (1976), before moving into an official role and then taking over the reins of the FIL in Rome on 25 June1994. As befits his character, he will spend the special day with a close-knit group in his native Germany.

Under Fendt’s leadership, the number of member associations has swelled to an impressive 52 nations. The professionally-managed sport – with the Viessmann World Cup in the Olympic disciplines and the BMW Sprint World Cup as its flagship events – is now an integral part of the Winter Games. Fendt was the driving force behind the team relay, which made a highly-acclaimed Olympic debut in Sochi. The women’s doubles is set to feature at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, prior to its inclusion in the Olympic programme. Television coverage has doubled during Fendt’s tenure, and there has been a lasting increase in the amount of print media copy, along with an impressive level of consistency among sponsors.