Berchtesgaden (pps) Launched on January 7, 2007 - one year later already an integral part of the World Championship program of the International Luge Federation, FIL. Within no more than four years, the Team Relay Event has progressed from a test event to a veritable highlight. At the upcoming 42nd FIL Luge World Championships to take place in Cesana, Italy, the Team Relay Event will be facing its Olympic “fitness” test. A high-ranking delegation of the International Olympic Committee, IOC, will determine the “fitness” of the innovative event on Sunday, January 30 (10.20 hrs). Athletes, media and spectators have already received the event positively. Athletes savour the shared experience to compete as a team, TV transmissions trigger convincing TV ratings and spectators applaud every successful “passing on the baton” with a sigh of relief. After all, the best lugers world-wide offer a truly exciting performance. The rules are easy to understand, there is a lot of excitement watching the sliders release the start gate for the next athlete by striking a touch pad. And what is more – the highly interesting event can be organised within a straightforward period of time. The athletes have long since passed their verdict of a „great competition that deserves to be included within the Olympic program“, as two-time Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler once said, being sure of the full support of his “colleagues”. Well, the five-time World champion and his fellow competitors will all have the chance to demonstrate that this event is indeed “fit” for Olympic Games. “It’s all up to us now”, as FIL President Josef Fendt explained.