Soft and hardware developer takes responsibility for Team Relay slip-up
Berchtesgaden (pps) The soft and hardware developer for the technical running of the Team Relay of the International Luge Federation, FIL, has taken over the responsibility for the slip-ups that occurred at the 42nd FIL World Championships. According to first information errors have been found around midnight on Sunday which obviously lead back to the internationally renowned, long-time technology partner of FIL. The reasons for the problems, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the competition, have not yet been fully resolved, however. The staff of the technology company have been requested to unearth the cause of the technical problems on site at Cesana. This was announced by the company’s management to FIL President Josef Fendt in a first telephone conversation on Sunday.
“That’s simply the risk you take if you try something new to further develop a sport. We have staged five Team Relays with altogether more than 60 runs this winter. During the relay events a total of about 180 runs took place, and not once did we have a technical problem with the time keeping“, Fendt said at FIL headquarters in Berchtesgaden on Monday. “Even though it is no consolation at the moment, you can’t do anything about a technical breakdown.” The FIL President continued: “Standstill means a step backwards, that’s why we look forward optimistically to the World Cup final in Sigulda and are hopeful to be able to solve the problems that occurred at Cesana in close cooperation with our partner.”
Jacques Rogge (Belgium), the President of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, will attend and closely watch the Team Relay event at the World Cup final in Sigulda on the occasion of a visit to the Latvian capital Riga. At the meeting of the IOC Executive Board in Acapulco, Mexico, last autumn, the IOC President was given the right to solely decide about the inclusion of altogether seven disciplines, among them the Team Relay of FIL, into the programme of Olympic Winter Games.
Fendt reported that, despite the technical problems, the IOC Commission had a positive impression about the format of the Team Relay. Among the IOC observers at Cesana was Christophe Dubi, Sports Director of the IOC since July 1, 2007. Rogge will announce his decision probably in April 2011.
In the meantime Markus Prock, Sports Director of the Austrian Luge Federation, ÖRV, has also declared his belief in the Team Relay. “The competition is very attractive and an enrichment for our sport“, said the two-time World champion who remains the record-winning champion in the Viessmann World Cup. “It is very unfortunate that the Team Relay event did not go well at Cesana. But we must look to the future and work hard that this doesn’t happen again”, the multiple Olympic medal winner added.
