Naseby (FIL) The first luge track in Oceania was recently opened in Naseby/New Zealand. At the official opening ceremony in the presence of approximately 1,000 spectators and numerous guests of honor including from government and sports institutions, the International Luge Federation (FIL) was represented by Geoff Balme, FIL Vice President for Oceania and President of the National Luge Federation of New Zealand and by natural track luge coach Karl Flacher (AUT).

Prior to the official opening of the track, a first training course was conducted by Karl Flacher, in which 21 athletes from all over New Zealand participated. Training was concluded with a competition; the awards ceremony of this race was held during the subsequent opening ceremony. Both the opening and the training course were covered on television and in numerous newspapers in New Zealand.

The new training facility with artificial refrigeration, which was built in Naseby, a village in the south of New Zealand, on the initiative of Geoff Balme, will be used to get artificial as well as natural track athletes from New Zealand and Oceania acquainted with the sport of luge.