Moscow (pps) The first artificially-iced track in Russia, situated in Paramonovo, has been officially approved to stage luge events. Prior to the FIL Junior World Cup next Friday and Saturday (December 11-12), Russia's national luge federation received the official homologation certificate of the International Luge Federation, FIL, presented by Klaus Bonsack, member of the FIL Track Construction Commission.

During the International Training Week on the new track that will soon experience its international baptism of fire staging the FIL Junior World Cup, young luge talents from nine nations (AUT, CZE, GER, ITA, JPN, SVK, UKR, USA and RUS) participated. Apart from the FIL Junior World Cup with two events in Paramonovo, just on the doorstep of Russia's capital Moscow, the schedule in the Olympic season also comprises stop-overs in Sigulda (Latvia), Koenigssee, Oberhof and Winterberg (all in Germany).

The season's highlight are undoubtedly the FIL Junior World Championships (January 30-31, 2010) on the Olympic track in Innsbruck-Igls. As in past years, Marie-Luise Rainer from Italy will officiate as FIL Technical Delegate.