Oberhof (pps) The world of sports is looking at Oberhof, Germany, this winter. In a season without Alpine and Nordic title events, the Thuringian winter sports resort not only hosts the World Biathlon Championships (February 6-14) but also the European Luge Championships on January 3-4 and thus may well boast to be the Mecca of the 2003-2004 winter sports season.

Thuringia’s Minister President Dieter Althaus is the patron of the 39th Luge Europeans. The artificial track, built in 1970, has been polished, and everything is ready for the victory ceremonies and great parties at the “Kurpark”. There are many communications and information means along the track. Besides video walls, the visitors will be well catered for in a large tent. The interior area of the “Kreisel” has been elevated thus offering optimum views on the track. The “Kurpark” at Oberhof has been chosen for the award ceremonies in the evenings thus creating the best conditions for great parties.

In addtion to the sponsors of the International Luge Federation, FIL, (Eberspaecher and Krombacher) and ISOSTEEL company, the organisers once again recruited a sponsor from Thuringia (PREFA Alu-minium roofs and facades) that had already been a sponsor at the last World Cup event.

Thuringian interests are concentrated on their local competitors lead by Silke Kraushaar. The 1998 Olympic champion who won her first major title at the European championships six years ago on her home track, started the current season with three World Cup victories at Sigulda, Latvia, Altenberg, Germany, and Park City, Utah. David Moeller achieved the first World Cup victory of his career in Cal-gary, Canada. Andre Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich are another local hope in the doubles. The 2001 World champions just won their first World Cup event again after a two-year drought.

The artificial track at Oberhof is considered one of the most demanding in the world. In 1973 and 1985 the World Championships were held on this track, 1,063.50m long for the men’s competition and 930.40m long for the women’s and doubles’ events. Oberhof will host the third European Championships this year since 1979 and 1998. German Olympic champions hold all track records (Silke Kraushaar: 41.552sec, Georg Hackl: 44.129sec, Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch: 41.689sec).