Honours on the First Day of Congress
At the Hotel Kempinski Berchtesgaden, the 74th FIL Congress opened today, Monday 8 June, to a full hall with delegates from 34 nations. Following welcoming greetings from the Mayor of the Market Town of Berchtesgaden, Alexander Resch, the President of the German Bob and Sledding Association (BSD), Hans-Wolf von Schleinitz, and FIL President Einars Fogelis, congratulations were extended to newly elected or re-elected presidents and secretary generals of national federations:
Sorina Ticu, re-elected President of Romania · Raluca Stramaturaru, newly elected Secretary General of Romania · Nataliya Gart, re-elected President of Russia · Anna Savka, re-elected Secretary General of Russia · Markus Prock, re-elected President of Austria · Daniel Johnson, newly elected President of Sweden · Prof. Dr. Süleyman Sahin, re-elected President of Turkey · Yoichi Fukazawa, newly elected President of Japan · Rafal Zahuta, newly elected President of Poland · Taras Hartsula, newly elected President of Ukraine · Oksana Vatseba, newly elected Secretary General of Ukraine
Warmly welcomed at the Congress were, among others, Honorary President Josef Fendt and Honorary Member Svein Romstad, while Honorary Member Harald Steyrer was unfortunately unable to attend.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of departed figures from the luge world. Marianne Nachmann of Germany, bronze medallist at the first Luge World Championships in Oslo in 1955, passed away on 5 April 2026 at the age of 95. Valdis Kuzis of Latvia, a long-standing member of the Technical Commission and ninth-place finisher in the doubles event at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics, passed away on 24 April 2026 at the age of 81.
The Congress also recognised distinguished individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the sport of luge.
Fabio Saldini, CEO of SIMICO, the construction company of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and the driving force behind the construction of the Cortina sliding track, was awarded the FIL Honorary Medal. Stefano Longo, President of the Fondazione Cortina, and Michele Di Gallo, Director General of the Fondazione Cortina, were awarded the Honorary Diploma.
The FIL Bronze Medal of Honor was awarded to: Sungsik Shin (KOR), Simon Paregger (AUT), Manfred Markt (AUT), Alessandro Genuzio (ITA), Giorgia Favero (ITA), Inars Kivlenieks (LAT), Daniels Fogelis (LAT), Martins Rubenis (LAT), Mihails Arhipovs (LAT), Riks Kristens Rozitis (LAT), Ingrida Amantova (LAT), Anna Orlova (LAT), Kaspars Konrads (LAT), Dainis Aparjods (LAT), Kristaps Maurins (LAT), Zintis Saicans (LAT), Mark Hatton (GBR), Michael Zimmermann (GER), Sebastiano Dabala (ITA), Sandra Mariner (AUT).
The FIL Silver Medal of Honor was awarded to: Norbert Loch (GER), Margit Dengler-Paar (GER), Sorin Buta (ROU), Rupert Brüggler (AUT), Peter Heilinger (AUT), Kurt Brugger (ITA), Vera Zozula (LAT), Dace Abeltina (LAT), Mark Armstrong (GBR), Kerstin Lösch (GER), Hansjörg Raffl (ITA), Peggy Mousaw (USA), Gerhard Kleinhofer (AUT).
The FIL Gold Medal of Honor was awarded to: Derek Prentice (GBR), Maria Luise Rainer (ITA), Erich Batkowski (AUT), Ioan Apostol (ROU), Dr. Zane Kruze (LAT), Dace Gods-Romanovska (LAT), Normunds Grava (LAT), John Mowry (USA), Thomas Zimmermann (GER), Holger Hendrich (GER), Bernd Rossmann (GER).
The highest distinction of the International Luge Federation, the FIL Diamond Medal of Honor, was awarded to two individuals who have served and continue to serve the sport of luge for decades.
Dr. Christian Krähe has been an indispensable member of the FIL Legal Committee since 1994 and will continue to serve the federation in his capacity going forward.
Claire DelNegro was an Olympic athlete, team manager and worked for the FIL for 36 years, 28 of them as Vice President Sport/Artificial Track. She will not stand for another term. DelNegro was also inducted into the elite circle of FIL Honorary Members.
