Berchtesgaden (pps) The most successful luger of all times, Georg Hackl from Berchtesgaden, has ultimately put his steel runners aside after having collected a total of 35 medals at Olympic Games, World and European Championships. But even without the record winner in the men’s event, who captured 33 victories just like Austria’s Markus Prock, the Viessmann Luge World Cup has lost nothing of its attraction. So far 185 events on 19 different tracks were carried out. And now, at the 30 th Viessmann World Cup edition in the 2006-07 season, a further nine events on three continents are on the programme. The opener will take place at the 2006 Olympic track in Cesana Pariol, Italy, on November 18-19, the last event will be carried out in Sigulda/Latvia. Apart from the Viessmann Luge World Cup, four SUZUKI Challenge Cup events and a further four Team Competitions are scheduled on the 2006-07 Calendar.

The tracks themselves are becoming more and more attractive: After extensive renovations the tracks in Oberhof and Winterberg (both Germany) present themselves in a totally new look. With expenses of approximately ten million Euro, the Olympic track in Igls/Austria, venue of the 39 th FIL World Championships on February 2-4, 2007, has obtained a futuristic appearance. At present, the future track for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver is being built in Whistler Mountain and shall be ready for use in the autumn of 2008 at the latest. Additionally, the construction of two artificially-iced tracks in Russia – one outside of Moscow, the other in Sotchi on the Black Sea – is virtually certain. Furthermore, during the 30 th World Cup 2006-07 season the International Luge Federation, FIL, will celebrate its 50 th anniversary on the occasion of the 55 th annual Congress in Innsbruck on June 22-23, 2007.