Igls (pps) forward-looking - informative – liking fun: The initials of the International Luge Federation (FIL) may also be translated like this. One of the participants in the traditional Media Seminar, which the International Luge Federation (FIL) carried out during the International Training Week (November 6 to 11, 2006) in close cooperation with the Tiroler Rodel Arge as the organizer of the 2007 FIL Luge World Championships, made a joke of changing the abbreviation of the world federation to “forward-looking – informative – liking fun”.

And the event was clearly forward-looking. FIL President Josef Fendt seized the opportunity to introduce the new relay team competition. After numerous tests, the innovation will experience its baptism of fire at the Viessmann World Cups in Königssee (January 7, 2007) and Winterberg (February 11, 2007). Fendt: „With this we have a real team competition and not just the addition of individual times.“

Not only the details given by the FIL President were informative, but also the presentation of the 2007 FIL World Championships and the inspection of the renewed artificial ice track located at the foot of the Patscherkofel mountain. The partnership program of the organizers of the World Championships can be considered as a huge success already now. At the FIL Congress, 28 schools including two from South Tyrol, Italy, had been assigned by draw to participating nations. On the occasion of the training week, schools and teams got in touch for the first time. Athletes as well as students were completely thrilled by this campaign. „Our visit to our partner school with our team was absolutely great. There were 250 kids – if we could enthuse only a small percentage with luge it would be great“, said Olympic champion Armin Zöggeler. Germany’s partner school traveled from Sölden with 25 children in order to spare the team around Olympic champion Sylke Otto the one and a half hour trip to Ötztal. Sylke Otto: „It is terrific. The kids cheered at us loudly even during training.“ Altogether, 1.300 students take part in the campaign; project weeks regarding partner countries are incorporated in classes. For the days of the World Championships (February 2 to 4, 2007), more than a dozen ambassadors from all over the world have announced their coming.

There was also plenty of fun during the three days. This was also ensured by World Championships organizer Peter Knauseder, who introduced the new futuristic design of the 1976 Olympic track with Austrian charm and who skillfully promoted the fourth World Championships on “his” track after 1977, 1987 and 1997. Fun also prevailed at the closing evening, which had been sponsored by Tyrol advertising, partner of Tiroler Rodel ARGE, generously and in great surroundings. More than 20 media representatives (ARD, Eurosport, ORF, ZDF, apa, dpa, Tiroler Tageszeitung, Freies Wort Suhl, Freies Wort Chemnitz) had no regrets they had come to Igls.