Munich (pps) With vehemence the President of the International Luge Federation, FIL, Josef Fendt from Berchtesgaden, has expressed his protest against the planned covering of several artificial ice tracks. "I will fight this dreadful development tooth and nail", explained Fendt in front of media representatives in Munich. "We are and we will remain an outdoor sports."
In a joint effort with the International Bobsleigh Federation, FIBT, and its President Robert F. Storey, members of both track commissions prevented respectively improved various constructional works in Lillehammer/Norway this summer. During the inspection visit of the Olympic track in Cesana for the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin changes of the project were achieved, too.
Supporters of track coverings allude to a reduction of costs since first of all a smaller number of track workers is needed and secondly, track conditions will be independent of weather conditions. However, Josef Fendts counter-arguments are higher costs for the construction, a poor aesthetic impression as well has higher expenditures for TV transmissions.