Oberhof gearing up to host its 32nd Viessmann World Cup

Oberhof (RWH) The Oberhof bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track (RSBO) is all set to host a Viessmann World Cup for the 32nd time since 1983. Only the artificial ice tracks at Königssee (38) and Innsbruck (37) have hosted the International Luge Association (FIL) racing series more often.

The Thuringian fans are certainly unique in their support of luge. The FIL World Championships in 1973 attracted a total of 80,000 spectators, prompting then President Bert Isatitsch (AUT) to describe the event as a major success which would go down in the history of the sport. Even in recent years, the Viessmann World Cup in Oberhof has always drawn the best reaction from spectators. And nowhere is the commitment of the local media greater than in Oberhof. Publications have long contained special features containing extensive reports about lugers from all over the world and the local heroes ahead of the Oberhof World Cup.

And now more so than ever, with a major event on the near horizon. In 2023, the small country town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants will host two World Championships: lugers will compete for titles at the 51st FIL World Championships, while the Rennsteig arena will host the Biathlon World Championships. Both sports venues are set to be spruced up at a cost of some €50 million.

All work in, on and around the track is due for completion by September 2022. The total cost will be €31.5 million, which is being provided by the state of Thuringia (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports) and the German government (Federal Ministry of the Interior).

The labyrinthine ice track first opened in 1971 and has hosted the FIL World Championships in 1973, 1985 and 2008.