Innsbruck (pps/December 17, 2009) Sometimes a whole story can be told by just taking a look at the raw data: During the International Training Week of the International Luge Federation, FIL, on the future Olympic track in Whistler a total of 125 sleds from 26 different countries carried out exactly 2.250 runs.

Only three per-cent of these 2.250 runs ended with a crash. „We had no major ones “, stated FIL President Josef Fendt of Germany at the FIL media seminar in Innsbruck-Igls. But since the sport of luge is about racing this is why, sometimes, some of the runs just end with a crash. „Unfortunately“, Josef Fendt added.

In order to keep the „crash-quota“ as low as possible the International Luge Federation had issued safety precautions. For instance, a "systematic" training was mandatory for all participants during the International Training Week. This also included that the start height area after each run was relocated to a higher part on the track.

While the artificially-iced track for the Olympic Winter Games (February 12-28, 2010) in Vancouver, Canada, will be closed as of December 31, 2009 for the international top luge nations, only the host country and some of the so-called „small“ nations are allowed to carry out training runs. But, of course, solely under the direction of experienced FIL coaches, headed by Development Manager Ioan Apostol. This arrangement, too, is first and foremost due to security aspects.

The organisers at the "Whistler Sliding Center" have been playing a great role in preparing an attractive and safe track. The Eismeister, Tracy Seitz, had the opportunity to gather useful experiences in the same position at the Olympic tracks in Calgary and Salt Lake City. According to Germany's Wolfgang Staudinger, head coach of Team Canada: "There's no doubt about it - Tracy will certainly rise to the occasion“. So, everything is set for the 2010 Games in Vancouver!