Chancellor Merkel is patron – IOC President Dr Bach to attend as guest

Königssee (RWH) The 46th International Luge Federation (FIL) World Championships on the artificial ice track in Königssee from January 29-31, 2016 already promised to be a very special event, with guests of honor set to include Chancellor Angela Merkel as patron, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr Thomas Bach of Germany, and Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.

There will also be an interesting range of ancillary events including a lively opening ceremony on Weihnachtschützenplatz in Berchtesgaden. A public victory ceremony will take place on Saturday followed by a World Championship party, while there will also be a range of activities for visitors of all ages at the venue itself. Frequently modernized, the oldest artificial ice track in the world is located at the foot of the Watzmann Mountain.

The world’s top lugers are set to compete in the event, and the elite sliders have certainly been putting on a good show ahead of the main event of the season. And no wonder, with no fewer than seven World Championship gold medals up for grabs for the first time in FIL history. The FIL Sprint will make its World Championship debut on the most prestigious artificial ice track in the world on Friday January 29, 2016.

The 2015/2016 winter season has been one of the most exciting in recent years. In the women’s event, there have been six different winners of the Viessmann Luge World Cup, the first time this has happened in the history of the sport since the inaugural event in winter 1977/1978. The men’s event has seen four different winners, all from different countries. The doubles competition has been dominated by the ongoing duel between German teammates Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt.

Despite a torrid start to the season, the Olympic Champions and their training colleagues Natalie Geisenberger and Felix Loch travel to their home World Championships as current leaders of the Viessmann Luge World Cup standings. All are World Championship favorites and will also be a huge draw for spectators at the sixth championships to be staged in Königssee.