Sochi (pps) The numerous illustrious guests all were in complete agreement: The atmosphere at the “Luge Cathedral” of the “Sanki Sliding Center” is second to none. The decision in the Team Relay event, that celebrated its Olympic première at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, was the absolute highlight.

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Thomas Bach, and IOC Member Prince Albert of Monaco were present for the Team Relay event and assured themselves of the atmosphere: “Great,” said five-time Olympian in the bobsleigh events Prince Albert of Monaco with regard to the brilliant première. The athletes greatly enjoyed the cheers and shouts of the spectators in the packed stands, especially of course those on the podium. Olympic Champions Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Tobias Arlt-Tobias Wendl demonstrated that they can claim the podium’s top spot as a team, too. Host Russia with Tatiana Ivanova, Albert Demchenko and the doubles of Alexandr Denisyev-Vladislav Antonov earned the silver medal while Latvia’s squad with Eliza Tiruma, Martins Rubenis and Andris Sics-Juris Sics went down in the history of the International Luge Federation (FIL) as the first bronze medal winners.

“It’s hard to compare the value of both Olympic medals,” Geisenberger explained afterwards and Tobias Arlt added: “Somehow we knew that - with a gold medal in the Team Relay event – we would become, essentially, immortalized. As the first Olympic winners in this discipline we went down in history.” The “training group sunshine” of Geisenberger, Loch and Wendl-Arlt celebrated their victory later with a big party at the “Kufenstüberl”. On Saturday evening the four champions were invited at the sports show “Aktuelles Sportstudio” of the German public TV station ZDF. Afterwards they travelled back to Sochi to enjoy the rest of the Winter Games as “Olympic tourists”.

The President of the International Luge Federation (FIL), Josef Fendt, greatly enjoyed the Olympic days - not only because of the anniversary “50 Years of Luge at Olympic Games”. Numerous illustrious guests were present at the reception, among them IOC Vice President Craig Reedie, IOC Executive Board Member Gilbert Felli or Fendt’s “colleagues” from the other federations such as René Fasel (Ice Hockey), Anders Besseberg (Biathlon), Ivo Ferriani (Bobsleigh and Skeleton) and Kate Caithness (Curling). Additionally, Germany’s football legend Franz Beckenbauer, who enjoyed “the great atmosphere”, and Austria’s Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann soaked up the unique ambience at the artificially refrigerated track.

“Everything really worked out at our anniversary,” is the short statement of Josef Fendt who officiated at 12 Olympic Games in different functions and thus knows what he is talking about. six different nations (Germany, Russia, Italy, Latvia, U.S.A. and Austria) have won at least one medal. Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler wrote a chapter of luge history when he became the first athlete at Winter Games to claim the sixth consecutive medal at his sixth Olympic start. At the “Sanki Sliding Center” the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Champion earned his third bronze medal after 1994 and 2010. Additionally, Zoeggeler has a silver medal (1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan) to his name.