Lausanne (pps) Natural track luge athletes must continue to exercise patience. At the Executive Board meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, the application of the International Luge Federation (FIL) to include natural track luge in the program of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, was rejected. The IOC Executive Board declined altogether ten applications submitted by world federations, including a mixed tennis competition and additional 50 meters swimming competitions (breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly). Reasons for the refusal were not yet given by the IOC. FIL President Josef Fendt deeply regrets the rejection.

Only last week, the former World Champion traveled to the IOC headquarters in Switzerland in order to promote the FIL’s application. However, even at this meeting with Gilbert Felli, IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, IOC Sports Director Kelly Fairweather and Christophe de Kepper, Chief of Staff of the Executive Office of the IOC President, the FIL President’s hopes for success were not raised.

Independently from the natural track luge decision, the team competition artificial track is expected to be on the IOC’s agenda in the fall of 2006. „The IOC is treating our applications as two completely separate matters“, Fendt said. In the upcoming winter, Fendt continued, IOC observers will attend a team competition in order to scrutinize the event on site. Their conclusions will then be evaluated for the IOC’s decision.

Upon evaluation of the reasons for the rejection of natural track luge, the International Luge Federation (FIL) will analyze the issue thoroughly and decide on how it will proceed.