Innsbruck (pps) Many were invited by the International Luge Federation (FIL) to attend and many of them accepted the invitation: Numerous Olympic Champions brought additional splendor to the Gala in Innsbruck, commemorating the anniversary of “50 years of Luge at Olympic Games”.

Numerous former leading lugers enjoyed the reunion on the occasion of the 62nd FIL Congress. Whether Ortrun Zöphel-Enderlein, the first gold medal winner at the 1964 Olympic luge première in Innsbruck, Gerda Weißensteiner (gold medal in 1994), Natalie Geisenberger, who took the podium’s top spot at the Olympic Games in Sochi, or Thomas Köhler, Paul Hildgartner and Jens Müller – the 1964, 1984 and 1988 Olympic Champions. Not to forget the doubles team of Hans Stanggassinger-Franz Wembacher (gold medal in 1984), Jörg Hoffmann-Jochen Pietzsch (1988 Olympic Champions) and numerous further “luge luminaries” – they all greatly appreciated the reunion in Tyrol’s capital of Innsbruck. As the host of three Olympic events (1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games as well as the 2012 Youth Olympic Games), Innsbruck provided the perfect setting at a historical site.

Of course, the video message of the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Thomas Bach of Germany, also contributed to the overall successful festivities. As well as the charming welcoming speeches, given by the official IOC envoys Gianfranco Kasper, President of the International Ski Federation (FIS), and Dr. Karl Stoss, President of Austria’s Olympic Committee (ÖOC).

In his commemorative speech FIL President Josef Fendt, re-elected for a fifth term of office shortly before, outlined the Olympic beginnings of the sport of luge and made the link to the brilliant première of the FIL Team Relay event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in February.