Altenberg (pps) Gerhard Schroeder, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, is the patron, and with 19 participating nations the same entry-record has been achieved as two years ago at Winterberg: one month prior to the opening of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City (February 8-24) the European Luge Championships at Altenberg next weekend are the first highlight of the season
With the exception of the US and Canadian teams and title holder Jens Mueller, Germany, the complete luge élite will be competing. Mueller, the 1988 Olympic champion, retired from his career before the start of the current season.
Favourites in the men?s singles are Georg Hackl, Germany, who won three World Cup events this season and his 14th national title at Altenberg shortly before Christmas; current reigning World champion Armin Zoeggeler, Italy, who finally will have to put his cards on the table; and Austria?s Markus Prock, who achieved one of his two World titles on the Altenberg track in 1996 and also is the record winner with eight victories at Altenberg.
In the women?s singles Germany?s Sylke Otto and Silke Kraushaar will continue their "eternal" duel. As the 2000 European champion, reigning World champion Sylke Otto is also the title defender, 1998 Olympic champion Silke Kraushaar was victorious in three out of the five races this season.
There are several favourites for the title and medals in the doubles: Reigning World champions André Florschuetz-Torsten Wustlich of Germany who captured their first Viessmann World Cup victory at Altenberg last year; their German predecessors and European title holders, Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch; Austria?s cousins Tobias and Markus Schiegl, who gained the 1996 World gold medal on this track; and the Italians led by the 1992 Olympic champions Kurt Brugger-Wilfried Huber.
Three video walls at Altenberg
Altenberg (pps) The service for spectators is exemplary at the Luge and Bob Track Altenberg: The visitors can follow the competitions on three large video walls along the track. Local music bands will entertain the crowds between the races, various stands will offer delicacies. A large tent set up in the centre of Altenberg provides further entertainment in the evenings.
Race-off for Olympics between Geppert and Moeller
Altenberg (pps) The last open German ticket for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City in the men?s singles will be decided between Denis Geppert, sixth at the last World Championships, and reigning World junior champion David Moeller. Whoever finishes best in the European Championship competition on Sunday will accompany Georg Hackl and Karsten Albert to the USA.
The schedule at Altenberg
Altenberg (pps) Traditionally, the 2002 European Luge Championships will be opened on Friday with the team competition., followed by the women?s and doubles event on Saturday and the men?s competition on Sunday. Please find the exact schedule as well as broadcasting times at www.fil-luge.org - organizers - info.
The 1999-2000 European medal winners
1. Sylke Otto/GER, Jens Mueller/GER, Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch/GER2. Silke Kraushaar/GER, Georg Hackl/GER, Steffen Skel-Steffen Woeller/GER3. B. Niedernhuber/GER, Armin Zoeggeler/ITA, Tobias Schiegl-Markus Schiegl/AUT
Team competition:1. Germany 1 (Otto, Hackl, Leitner-Resch)2. Germany 2 (Wiedemann, Albert, Skel-Woeller)3. Italy 1 (Obkircher, Zoeggeler, Plankensteiner-Haslrieder)
