London (pps) The International Luge Federation, FIL, will provide for an optimum support of its young talents during the winter première of the Youth Olympic Games, YOG, to be carried out in Innsbruck on January 13-22, 2012. According to a decision of the FIL Executive Board, taken during their Autumn Meeting in London, an international team of six coaches and assistants under the direction of FIL Development Manager Ioan Apostol will support the altogether 70 young luge talents (20 women’s and men’s singles each as well as 15 doubles). Additionally, the FIL will send its service bus and experienced technician Gerhard Kirchner - well field-tested during the Viessmann Luge World Cup series – to Innsbruck. By the way, Markus Schmidt, 1992 Olympic bronze medallist in Albertville and for years now race director of the Olympic track in Igls, will serve as race director at the Youth Olympic Games. At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, Schmidt was part of the Jury.

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