Unfortunately, the FIL’s second application to include natural track luge in the Olympic program has also been unsuccessful. What do you think are the reasons for this rejection?
Josef Fendt:
In a letter dated November 3, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave two main reasons. On the one hand, the high cost of the necessary infrastructure based on IOC calculations was mentioned. On the other hand, the IOC decided at its Session in Mexico City in 2002 that similar events should generally be avoided. Even though we kept explaining about the differences very clearly, the IOC obviously considered natural track luge too similar to artificial track luge.
Chris Karl:
What is your personal opinion regarding the backgrounds of this decision?
Josef Fendt:
During my latest visit to the IOC in Lausanne in October I was verbally given some additional reasons. One of them was the fact that natural track luge is mainly practiced only in Europe, which was substantiated by looking at result lists. Besides, the IOC Programme Commission had issued a negative statement again. Furthermore, the television coverage in the past few years was not considered satisfactory. I think that I was able to dispel doubts regarding dependence on weather in personal conversations.
Chris Karl:
Recently, there has also been criticism claiming that the International Luge Federation FIL did not put enough efforts in this application.
Josef Fendt:
I have also heard this kind of criticism and I also know where it comes from. Some sports officials are venting their disappointment partly with unfair arguments. Although I understand this disappointment and certainly also share it, I have to reject this criticism entirely. We have done everything in our might in order to make our application successful. It is not us who make the decision, however, but the IOC. Unfortunately, from an objective point of view, some of the IOC’s arguments cannot be totally dismissed either.
Chris Karl:
Exactly which activities were done in the run-up to the decision in October?
Josef Fendt:
First of all, the official application of the FIL was submitted to the IOC in due time in January 2005. For this purpose, a dossier on natural track luge was created by a professional designer. This dossier was sent to the responsible persons in the IOC together with extensive documents and a video with natural track luge highlights. Among others, the differences between artificial track luge and natural track luge were made clear in these papers. Later in January, together with Vice-President Alfred Jud, I traveled to Rome in order to meet with the chairman of the IOC Programme Commission, Franco Carraro. I was also accompanied by Dr. Manfred von Call, the substitute chairman of the FIL Court of Arbitration, who is from South Tyrol, as well as by Mauro Della Vedova as representative of the Italian Federation FISI. We seized this opportunity in order to emphasize our application at the highest level.
Apart from this, I managed to achieve support for our application from AIOWF – the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations. I also talked to IOC Executive Board members about our application. Furthermore, we were constantly in contact with the Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and invited Sports Director Tim Gayda to the 2005 World Championships in Latsch. On site, he was able to get an idea of natural track luge. Our impression was that his judgement on this sport was quite positive.
In October, shortly before the IOC made its decision, I traveled to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne again in order to present our application to top-level IOC representatives once again.
Chris Karl:
But was it not the case that, in spite of good contacts with Vancouver, there could have been more support from this side? Vancouver would have had to cover the total cost of the track including infrastructure and confirm this to the IOC. It will always be the same situation that, seven years before Olympic Winter Games are awarded, natural track luge is not part of the program. From which host could this kind of support in terms of covering the total cost be expected? Or what could be done in order to improve this situation?
Josef Fendt:
I do think that we received support from Vancouver, of which I was also assured in personal meetings. The question of cost, however, is definitely a problem. In the end, it is unfortunately often also the money that is decisive. Compared to other sports, the costs for a natural track still move within certain limits though. However, these costs cannot be denied and represent an additional expense for the host of Olympic Winter Games. Therefore we have tried to keep the cost as low as possible, for example by creating a single finish area to be used jointly by natural track luge and another sport.
Chris Karl:
Critics have also claimed that you, in person, did not stand behind this application one hundred per cent. What is your opinion regarding such accusations?
Josef Fendt:
These accusations are just as malicious as they are invented. The basic and most important responsibility of the FIL must be, just as in a private enterprise, to maintain and improve its own position. Only this enables us to practice our sport successfully in an increasingly difficult economic environment. And it is exactly the addition of another discipline at Olympic Games and the awarding of additional Olympic medals that would strengthen the position of the FIL compared to other Olympic Winter Sports Federations in a lasting way. No-one in his right mind could imply that I as President of the FIL did not fully support the application to include natural track luge in the Olympic program, or that I even operated against it.
Chris Karl:
What will happen to natural track luge now? Will the FIL file another application for 2014?
Josef Fendt:
The exact analysis of the reasons given for the rejection has not been concluded yet. It could be decisive who will be chosen as host of the 2014 Games as our chances would probably be a lot higher in Salzburg than for example in Korea. In any way, regardless of the inclusion of natural track luge in the Olympic program, we will continue to work on the development of this exciting and spectacular sport. In doing so we will certainly focus on the points of criticism given by the IOC and try to establish natural track luge also outside Europe.
Chris Karl:
What are the exact measures you are having in mind? According to the IOC, a sport must be practiced in 25 countries on four continents. A beginning has been made in America with Canada and USA, but what plans exist in order to involve Asia?
Josef Fendt:
Within the scope of the FIL development program we have strived for years to get new nations involved in our sport. We also support weaker nations in order to enable them to participate in our competitions. Every year we invest a great amount of money for this purpose. Karl Flacher, our natural track luge coach, does a great and tangible job with athletes from countries which have not become established in natural track luge yet. These athletes would not have a chance without this kind of support. With the double World Cup in Canada in February/March next year, we have actually made a great step towards North America. We have also moved to the east by successfully hosting several natural track luge World Cups in Moscow. We also want to build up contacts in Asia.
Apart from this, there are serious efforts to build a sport facility in New Zealand, on which natural track luge can be practiced. The FIL certainly looks upon such plans very favorably and offers all kinds of technical, personal and also financial support.
Chris Karl:
Thank you for the conversation.
