Berchtesgaden (cf): At the center of attention of this year’s Congress of the International Luge Federation (FIL) there will be numerous anniversaries and celebrations. Therefore the FIL has returned for its regularly recurring meeting to the place where everything began - to Davos. Here not only the first international luge race was held exactly 120 years ago, here also the FIL was founded in 1957. Thus it is a fortunate coincidence that the Swiss Bobsleigh and Skeleton Sports Federation also celebrates its 100th birthday this year, and that all these anniversaries can be celebrated together on a large scale. Quite a lot of tradition and history - but the FIL is also planning and designing the future of its sport. The path towards modernization of luge sport which has been begun during the past years will also be continued in the years to come. The 51st FIL Congress will also occupy itself with this task. In the administrative part of the meeting, the past season will be evaluated and the preparations for the upcoming season 2003/2004 will be presented. Farther reaching into the future will be the decisions concerning the placing of the European Championships in 2006, natural track, and of the World Championships in 2007, artificial track. For both events applications have arrived from Austria: From Umhausen (for natural track) and from Igls (for artificial track). In addition to further classical agenda items like the budget approval for the upcoming business year and the presentation of the organizers of major future events like: Nagano (World Championships artificial track in 2004), Oberhof (European Championships artificial track in 2004) and Hüttau (European Championships natural track in 2004), the decisions of the FIL Executive Board from April 26, 2003 concerning the modernization of artificial track luge sport (we reported) will be presented. Catchwords like qualifying races, an increased number of races, a changed starting order, reduction of training periods, or the planned “Nations’ Cup” are examples for the modernization approach of the FIL. All of these decided changes will be implemented during the first half of the forthcoming season. For the further course regarding these changes the FIL Executive Board will take decisions in December 2003 after consultations with the Sports Commission and the Technical Commission. To sum things up, the self-image of the FIL regarding the contents of the 51st Congress can be defined as follows: “Luge sport - a modern sport with tradition”.