Colourful opening ceremony of the 49th FIL World Championships

Sochi (RWH)  A colourful opening ceremony marked the start of the 49th International Luge Federation (FIL) World Championships on the artificial ice track in Sochi, Russia. Following a parade of athletes from the 19 competing nations from four continents in the centre of Rosa Khutor, the crowds of spectators were treated to a series of energetic performances. FIL President Josef Fendt, who thanked Natalia Gart, President of the national Luge Federation, declared the event officially open. These World Championships are the first to be staged in Russia.