Beijing (pps) Josef Fendt, the President of the International Luge Federation (FIL) made a one-week trip to China at the end of October. Fendt, a two-time luge World Champion, who is a member of the commission Sport and Environment of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), participated in the 7th IOC World Conference on Sport and Environment.

After the conference, which was held in the future Olympic city of Beijing, the 60 years old Fendt travelled on to Shenyang in order to meet with Ma Yi, Professor and Vice-President of Shenyang Sport University, and Professor Shi An Wang of the same institute in order to discuss the further development of the sport of luge in China. Fendt was accompanied by Koji Kuriyama from Japan, the FIL Sport Coordinator for Asia. As a first activity intended to promote luge in China, there are plans to hold a training camp in Sapporo, Japan, in early 2008 (January or February). The FIL will support this project financially.