Executive Board

President - LAT

Einars Fogelis
 

Einars Fogelis was elected President of the FIL at the 68th FIL Congress 2020 in Großgmain/AUT. Prior to that, he was Vice President for Technical Matters from 1994 until 2018, and FIL Secretary General from 1998 until 2020.

On a national level, Mr. Fogelis has been vice president of the Latvian Olympic Committee since 2012 and president of the Latvian Sports Federations Council since 2014.

Mr. Fogelis holds a master’s degree in engineering and social sciences. In the years 1983 to 1994, he served as the chief of track, chief engineer, and director of the Sigulda bobsleigh and luge track. From 1994 to 2004, he was the director of the sports department of Latvia’s Ministry of Education. He served as secretary general of the Latvian Olympic Committee from 2004 until 2012 and has been the director of “Team Olympic Latvia” since 2012.

Einars Fogelis is married and has a daughter and two sons. His hobbies are mountain biking, tennis, SUP, skiing, theater, and traveling.

Secretary General - USA

Dwight Bell
 

Dwight Bell was elected Secretary General of the FIL at the 68th FIL Congress 2020 in Großgmain/AUT. Prior to that, he served as the USA’s representative to the FIL since 1989, and was elected to the FIL Executive Board at the 2018 FIL Congress in Bratislava, Slovakia. Mr. Bell competed as an athlete from 1977-1984.  He served as president of the US Luge Association from 1989-1998, 2006-2010, and 2014-2018.

Other positions he has held in the Olympic movement include: Member of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 IOC Evaluation Commissions; Chef de Mission of the US Olympic Team (211 athletes) for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics; Deputy Chef de Mission of the US Olympic Team for the 1998 Nagano Olympics; Member of the Board of Trustees, Management Committee and Finance Committee for the Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympics; Member of the Board of Directors 1989-2004 for the US Olympic Committee (USOC); he also served as a Member of the USOC Executive Committee, Chair of the US Olympic Winter Sports Council, Vice Chair of the National Governing Body Council (all 36 Summer and Winter US Olympic Sports Federations) and Co-Chair of the USOC International Relations Committee.

Mr. Bell is the founder of Atlanta, Georgia USA based Cannon Equities, Inc. and co-founder of AB Capital LLC.  These companies invest and develop commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate in the United States.  During his 39-year real estate career, Mr. Bell has worked with investors based in the US and Europe to fund projects in excess of 3 billion USD in value. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP), based in Washington DC, representing the commercial real estate industry in North America with over 20,000 members.

Vice President of Finance - AUT

Philipp Trattner

Philipp Trattner was elected Vice President of the FIL at the 74th FIL Congress 2026 in Berchtesgaden/GER.

Throughout his professional career, he has held a number of senior positions within Austrian sport, including serving as Secretary General of the Austrian Basketball Federation and later in leading roles within the Austrian Federal Sports Administration. Most recently, he headed the Sports Section of the Austrian Federal Ministry responsible for sport, where he was responsible for strategic sports policy, governance matters, legal affairs, and the management of significant public funding programs.

In addition to his extensive experience in sports administration, Philipp Trattner has developed strong expertise in financial management, budgeting, governance, legal affairs, and the administration of non-profit organizations. His professional background includes the preparation and supervision of budgets, financial planning and control, as well as ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainable use of resources within sports organizations.

As Vice President Finance of the International Luge Federation (FIL), he is committed to maintaining the federation’s financial stability while supporting the continued growth and development of luge worldwide. Particular emphasis is placed on creating opportunities for smaller nations, strengthening development programs, and ensuring that financial resources are used efficiently to support athletes, coaches, and member federations.

Philipp Trattner is convinced that sound financial governance forms the foundation for a strong and sustainable future of international luge sport. Through responsible financial management, innovation, and international cooperation, he aims to contribute to the long-term success and continued global development of the FIL and the sport of luge.

Executive Director - AUT

Christoph Schweiger
 

Christoph Schweiger was appointed full-time Executive Director of the FIL on July 1, 2010. Prior to that, he was a member of the FIL Working Group "Youth/Development" from 2006 to 2010.

On the national level, Mr. Schweiger served as secretary general of the Austrian Luge Federation from 2008 to 2010. He was an active luge athlete himself and a member of the Austrian national luge team from 1984 to 1987. His best result was sixth place in the 1985/1986 Overall World Cup in doubles.

Christoph Schweiger has an education as an engineer for communications engineering and electronics as well as an education as a sports manager.

He is married and has three children. His hobbies are hiking, race cycling, and books on model making.

Vice President Sport Luge Artificial Track - GER

Hans-Jürgen Köhne 

Hans-Jürgen Köhne was first elected FIL Vice President Sport Luge Artificial Track at the 74th FIL Congress 2026 in Berchtesgaden/GER.

Prior to that, he had been Chairman of the FIL Youth and Development Commission since 2012. From 1978 to 1988 Hans-Jürgen Köhne was an active luge athlete.

At the national level, he serves as a member of the BSD Executive Committee, President of the  Nordrhein-Westfälischen Bobsleigh and Luge Association, and as Chairman of the Hallenberg Bobsleigh and Luge Club. Professionally, Hans-Jürgen Köhne is the founder, partner, and managing director of a medium-sized company in Hallenberg.

Hans-Jürgen Köhne is married and has a daughter and a son. His hobbies include hiking and cycling. 

Vice President Technical Matters Luge Artificial Track - ITA

Armin Zöggeler
 

Armin Zöggeler was elected Vice President for Technical Matters at the 66th FIL Congress 2018 in Bratislava/SVK.

He was one of the most successful athletes in the history of luge. He won six medals at Olympic Games: Bronze 1994 in Lillehammer (NOR), silver 1998 in Nagano (JPN), gold 2002 in Salt Lake City (USA) and 2006 in Turin (ITA) as well as bronze 2010 in Vancouver (CAN) and 2014 in Sochi (RUS). He became World Champion six times (1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2011), won 57 World Cup races, was ten times overall World Cup winner and three times European Champion.

After finishing his active sports career, he coached the Italian national team artificial track from 2014 to 2015; since 2015, the member of the Italian Carabinieri sports group has been sports director of the Italian national team artificial and natural track.  

Armin Zoeggeler is married and has a daughter and a son. His hobbies are hiking, hunting, and horse breeding.

Vice President Marketing - GER

Thomas Schwab
 

Thomas Schwab was elected Vice President for Marketing at the 67th FIL Congress 2019 in Ljubljana/SLO. Prior to that, he was a member of the FIL Sport Commission from 1994 to 2008.

On a national level, he served as Junior luge coach for the German federation from 1989 until 1994 and as head coach from 1994 until 2008. In 2008, he became sport director, secretary general, and CEO of the Bobsleigh and Skelton Federation for Germany (BSD) and has held these offices ever since.

Prior to that, Thomas Schwab competed internationally in artificial track luge in the doubles discipline. His best results include winning the overall World Cup in the 1986/1987 season, a bronze medal at the 1987 World Championships in Innsbruck/Igls, gold at the 1988 European Championships, and a bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

His hobbies are cycling (both mountain and racing bike). As a trained mason, he still enjoys working in this craft.

Vice President Alpine Luge - AUT

Simon Paregger
 

Simon Paregger was first elected to the FIL Executive Board as Vice President of Alpine Luge at the 74th FIL Congress 2026 in Berchtesgaden/GER.

Since the 2007/2008 season, he has also held various positions with the Austrian Luge Federation. He has been a member of the international judging panel since 2011 and has regularly served as jury chairman at international FIL events since 2017.

In addition to his work at the international level, he serves as Vice President for Public Sports in the Austrian Luge Federation.

Mr. Paregger holds various certifications in coaching, sports therapy, and sports management.

Outside of luge, Mr. Paregger works in middle management in the hotel industry.

Member - USA

Ashley Walden
 

Ashley Walden was first elected to the Executive Board of the FIL at the 74th FIL Congress 2026 in Berchtesgaden/GER.

She is President and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and has been responsible for the operation and further development of the Olympic sports venues in Lake Placid, New York, since 2023. Prior to this role, from 2019 to 2023, she served as Chief Organizer of the Organizing Committee for the 2023 FISU World University Games, and from 2012 to 2019, she was Director of Sport at USA Bobsled & Skeleton.

As a former luge athlete, she represented the United States at the international level for over 16 years, including at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and at several World Championships.

She holds a Master of Science in Project Management and a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.

Ashley lives with her family in Lake Placid and enjoys spending her free time at the lake, hiking, and traveling.

Member - CHN

Xing Shuo
 

Xing Shuo was first elected to the Executive Board of the FIL at the 2026 FIL Congress in Berchtesgaden/GER.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from Beijing Sport University and is currently Deputy Director of the Winter Sports Administrative Center, General Administration of Sport of China, where he is responsible for the sliding sports disciplines of bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge.

He is a senior sports administrator with nearly 30 years of experience in winter sports governance. Since the start of his career in 2000, he has continuously served within China’s highest winter sports authority, progressing from grassroots-level sport management to senior executive leadership.

He has accumulated extensive experience across the full spectrum of winter sports management, including athlete development, coaching systems, competition organization, and international collaboration. His leadership roles in national team management and support have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of high-performance systems and athlete welfare.

With a strong academic foundation in sports management and a career-long commitment to winter sports, Mr. Xing brings both strategic insight and practical experience to the governance and development of sliding sports at the international level.

Vice President for Oceania - NZL

Geoff Balme
 

Geoff Balme was elected again as Vice President for Oceania at the 74th FIL Congress 2026 in Berchtesgaden/GER. 

Previously at the 71st FIL Congress 2023 in Bucharest/ROU he was elected Vice President Finance and from 1989-2023 he was Vice President for Oceania.

He has been the president of New Zealand Luge since 1985 and served as a Board member of New Zealand Olympic Committee from 1996 to 2003. At the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games, Mr. Balme was Chef de Mission of the New Zealand team.

Prior to that, Geoff Balme competed internationally in artificial track luge during the 1986/87, 1987/88 & 1988/89 seasons. His best result was 36th place in the 1989 World Championships at Winterberg, Germany. While living in Calgary, Canada, he competed in natural track luge from 1984 to 1988, including the 1988 North American Championships at Thunder Bay, Canada.

Mr. Balme is a chartered accountant who has worked in public practice and the corporate sector including 4½ years as chief executive of the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust that developed the indoor velodrome that is New Zealand’s National Cycling Centre of Excellence.

He has been married to his wife Debbie since 1982 and has two adult children. His hobbies are running, cycling, sailing, and snowboarding/skiing.

Athletes` Representative - ITA

Leon Felderer
 

Leon Felderer was elected chairman of the athletes' commission in 2023 and has since been a member of the executive board.

From 2008 - 2014 he competed as a luge athlete on natural track for the Italian national team. Since 2015 he has been active as a luge athlete on artificial track and has successfully competed in national competitions, international World Cups and World Championships on artificial track. In 2022, he competed for the first time at the Winter Olympics in Beijing/CHN for the Italian national team.

He is a member of the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) sports group.

His hobbies are cycling, hiking and beach volleyball.