Berchtesgaden (pps) The entire Executive Board of the International Luge Federation, FIL, will stand for re-election at the 54th Congress at Berchtesgaden, Germany, on June 29-30. President Josef Fendt, Germany, elected successor to the late founding president Bert Isatitsch, Austria, in Rome in 1994, wants to continue his successful work together with Secretary General Svein Romstad, USA, and Vice President for Financial Affairs, Harald Steyrer, Austria.

Under Fendt’s leadership, FIL welcomed last year its 50th member federation, Hungary. In addition, FIL managed to almost double TV transmission times in the past years. The men’s final at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, for instance, generated top TV ratings in Italy and Germany with 5.5 million viewers (Italy) and 8.3 million in Germany. Furthermore, FIL is consequently continuing the generous Solidarity Programme for smaller member federations.

Vancouver, Canada, the 2010 Olympic City; Innsbruck-Igls, Austria, host of the 2007 World Championships; and Grande Prairie, Canada, site of the 2007 World Championships on Natural Track, will present reports at the FIL Congress. The FIL Congress will also award the FIL Championships up to 2010.