Berchtesgaden (pps) Jan Steler is dead. According to information from the FIL Office in Berchtesgaden dated Monday, August 14, 2006, the Vice-President for International Affairs of the International Luge Federation (FIL) died last Saturday (August 12, 2006) aged 77 in France, his adopted country. Jan Steler had suffered from heart disease for some time.

Steler was born in Poland and lived and worked in France since 1959. In 1955 – two years before the official foundation of FIL - he was elected to the Technical Commission of the section luge of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, FIBT. With this, he was undoubtedly the longest-serving official of FIL. Steler was FIL Secretary General from 1971 until 1994; from 1994 until his death he served as Vice President for International Affairs.

The recognition of Jan Steler also represented the emotional highpoint of the 53rd Congress of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Cesana (Italy), where he could look back on 50 years of service as a sports official. “Jan Steler never allowed himself to be affected – and certainly not stopped – by any difficulties, obstacles, or problems. This attitude runs like an unbroken thread through his entire life. He never let himself get discouraged, but instead always moved ahead on his own initiative and found a way,” said President Fendt in his honorific speech at that time.

At the 2006 FIL Congress in Berchtesgaden, Steler was again confirmed in his office. His health, however, did not allow him to attend the Congress, so that he was unable to personally receive the „Spirit of Sport“ award from the General Association of International Sports Assosiations (AGFIS), recognizing his achievements. Besides many other awards, he was decorated with the Olympic Order in Silver from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1993.
Jan Steler was also a very successful architect. He greatly contributed to the projection of the Olympic tracks in Grenoble, Sapporo, Lake Placid, La Plagne, Lillehammer and Salt Lake City.