Berchtesgaden (pps) German Josef Fendt is standing for re-election as President for the third time at the 54th Congress of the International Luge Federation, FIL, to take place at Fendt’s home town of Berchtesgaden on June 29-30. “I would like to continue the successful work of the past few years together with my colleagues on the Executive Committee. Together we have implemented a modernisation of the sport of luge in the recent past, but it has not yet been concluded”, Fendt reasoned his candidature. The 1970 and 1974 World champion had been elected the successor of the late founding president Bert Isatitsch, Austria, in Rome, Italy, in 1994 and was re-elected in that position at the 1998 Congress in Colorado Springs, USA, and the 2002 Congress at Wolfgangsee, Austria.

Despite checks by the International Olympic Committee, IOC, Fendt is of the opinion that the International Luge Federation does not have to worry about its status as an Olympic sport. “Contrary to the Summer Games, where two sports have been dropped from the Olympic Programme, I consider the danger not to be so great for the Winter Games. The programme of the Winter Games is not so extensive as that in the Summer Games. I think that sports will not to be dropped quickly“, Fendt disclosed in the following interview. The FIL President, a member of the IOC Commission “Sports and Environment” since last April, considers FIL an “integral part of the Olympic Family”.

The Interview
Upon recommendation by the Winter Sports Federations you have been appointed to the ‘Sports and Environment’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee last April. Thus the International Luge Federation, FIL, is represented in an IOC Commission for the first time. Was does it mean to FIL?

Josef Fendt: “This appointment reflects the trust FIL enjoys with the other Winter Sports Federations. It shows that FIL has been fully accepted by the other Winter Sports Federations and that they attach importance to our opinion. But this appointment also proves that the FIL is an integral part of the Olympic Family. To me personally, it is of course an honour to be in an IOC Commission.”

Let’s stay with the IOC. After the Summer Sports Federations have been checked for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Winter Sports Federations are now being checked by the IOC. What is the present situation?

Josef Fendt: “We are currently filling in the questionnaires sent to us by the IOC. They are extensive consisting of altogether 16 pages. Contrary to the Summer Games where two sports have been dropped from the programme, I consider the danger not so great for the Winter Games. The Winter Games Programme is not so extensive as that of the Summer Games. I think that sports will not be dropped quickly.“

What are the arguments in favour of luge as an Olympic sport?

Josef Fendt: “We generated excellent TV ratings at the Winter Games in Torino. Approximately 8.3 million TV viewers in Germany watched the final in the men’s single, for instance, thus finishing among the top ten of the Olympic broadcasts. In Italy, 5.5 million people watched Italian Armin Zoeggeler winning the Olympic gold medal. In addition to good TV ratings we can also boast three World Championships in three continents, Europe, Asia and North America – Sigulda in Latvia, Nagano in Japan and Park City in the USA. Our sport is well represented world-wide, thanks also to our development programme.”

But that’s not all?

Josef Fendt: “We are looking forward to very attractive World Championships with many spectators in Innsbruck-Igls, Austria, in 2007 and at Oberhof, Germany, in 2008. In addition, we have modified our rules, streamlined the World Cup schedule, implemented qualifying criteria and made our events more professional. We can also proudly announce that - contrary to other sports - we did not have positive doping case for six years. For years we have been promoting the so-called smaller nations by our Solidarity Programme. Even though we don’t think the sport is at the end of progress, we are on a very good road to remain an integral part of the Olympic Programme.“

In this connection do you also hope that the team event will be included in the Olympic Programme?

Josef Fendt: “I have always emphasised that our motions to include luge on natural tracks and the team event in the Olympic Programme must be seen separately. The procedure of the IOC in these two matters proves this opinion. Luge on natural tracks will not be included for the time being, a fact we regret very much of course. The IOC will take the decision about the team event this autumn. We are of the opinion that the team event is an attractive discipline that deserves to be included in the Olympic Programme.”

You stand for re-election at the 54th FIL Congress at Berchtesgaden at the end of June. What do you expect from this Congress?

Josef Fendt: “First of all I am very pleased that this Congress will take place at my home town. That’s something special, of course. And then I would like to continue the successful work of the past few years together with my colleagues of the Executive Committee. Together we have implemented a modernisation of the sport of luge in the recent past which has not yet been concluded.”

At your re-election four years ago you promised more TV transmissions. What has been achieved in this respect?

Josef Fendt: “In the past four years we have further increased our TV transmissions. We are regularly represented on Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and on Sport Italy even live. In addition to the extensive TV broadcasts in Germany, the most important market for our sponsoring partners, the Viessmann World Cup series are also shown regularly in the USA and Canada. Last winter we could add a channel in Asia and Russia, not least thanks to the success of Albert Demtchenko who gained the silver medal in Torino. Our events were shown live for about 30 hours in Russia. We are now hoping to generate a better TV presentation in Italy and Austria due to the Olympic victories of Armin Zoeggeler and Austrian doubles Wolfgang and Andreas Linger. However, TV broadcasts have clearly been increased and do not stand behind those of other winter sports.”

Let’s turn to sports. Is the impression misleading or have the top lugers indeed become more numerous?

Josef Fendt: “Competitors from five different nations finished in the five first places in the men’s single at the Olympic Winter Games in Torino. Martins Rubenis won the first Olympic medal for Latvia in history, celebrated respectively on site by Latvia’s President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. Altogether five different nations gained at least one medal. Personally I think it unfortunate that the US team’s best results were two fourth finishes since they won altogether four medals in 1998 and 2002.”

Georg Hackl, the first ever winter sport athlete who won five medals in five successive Olympic Winter Games, has retired. Do you fear there will be negative effects without the long-time advertisement for the sport?

Josef Fendt: “Georg Hackl will not be lost to luge. He remains in the sport as a coach and will probably continue to be on site at our events as TV expert. He himself has announced to continue to support the work of FIL as he did in the past.”