Berchtesgaden (pps) The International Luge Federation, FIL, celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the opening of its headquarters in 2013. This is the reason why the FIL organized a small ceremony at its offices at Rathausplatz 9 in Berchtesgaden. It wasn’t easy to persuade his predecessor, Bert Isatitsch of Austria, of the necessity of setting up such a facility, especially so in Berchtesgaden, explained FIL President Josef Fendt. As FIL Vice President at that time, Fendt had been the initiator to set up the FIL Office. In January 1993 the FIL Office opened in Berchtesgaden under the direction of Hartmut Kardaetz and with a staff of two. Since 2010 it is Christoph Schweiger, Executive Director of the International Luge Federation, who is heading the offices.