Vancouver (pps) Exactly 502 days prior to the opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, on February 12, 2010, the Executive Board of the International Luge Federation (FIL) concluded its three-day fall meeting in the future Olympic city. During the meeting, which began in Vancouver on Friday, September 25, 2008, and ended in Whistler on September 27, 2008, Claire DelNegro (USA), FIL Vice-President for Sport Artificial Track, was appointed as head of the newly created Sustainability Working Group. Other members will be named at a later stage.

In addition to the inspection of the artificial track at Whistler Sliding Center and the future Olympic village, the meeting’s program included talks with the organizing committee (VANOC) regarding start times of the Olympic luge competitions. Furthermore, the Executive Board members discussed the appointment of officials in the 2008/2009 season with the highlight of the 41st FIL World Championships, which will be held in Lake Placid, New York, from February 5 to 7, 2009.