Berchtesgaden (pps) Around the world, the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to add the International Luge Federation’s (FIL) team luge relay to the Olympic Winter Games triggered only positive reactions. “I am very happy. It was a lot of hard work”, said FIL President Josef Fendt in London. “For me and the organization, it is a very emotional and historic decision.”

With the Olympic premier of the team relay in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, luge, which was added to the Olympics in 1964 in Innsbruck, will celebrate its 50th anniversary as an established part of the Olympic Winter Games. FIL founding president, Bert Isatitsch (Rottenman/AUT) succeeded in raising luge sport to Olympic maturity. His successor, Josef Fendt, was able to secure an additional luge discipline in the Olympic schedule. According to Fendt, “Despite a few setbacks, our efforts and our commitment have finally paid off.”

Further reactions:
Andreas Linger (AUT / Olympic Doubles Champion in 2006 and 2010, two-time World Champion)
“I am very pleased with this decision. It is important for us and our sport. Luge has been a part of the Olympic program since 1964 and is the only sport that has had the same program since its introduction to the Olympic Games.”

Nina Reithmayer (AUT / Olympic Silver Medalist 2010)
“Super that it worked out. In Sigulda, the teams showed IOC President Rogge what makes relay so exciting. Now we have four disciplines and we all have an additional chance to win a medal.”

Ron Rossi (USA / USA Luge CEO)
“This is very exciting news for the sport and our athletes. It adds another Olympic event to showcase our sport and give our athletes an additional chance to score a medal. The beauty of the event is that it involves all three events contested in the sport (men's singles, women's singles and doubles) - which also means that the genders are mixed into the one competition. It also doesn't hurt that we will be able to offer up a very competitive team.”

Thomas Schwab (GER / General Secretary and Sport Director of the German federation BSD)
“Of course, we are very happy that our Olympic sport has been expanded by a further discipline. From the beginning we had confidence in the idea. The competition is an exciting enhancement to the existing forms of competition. I can very well imagine that we have taken on a pioneering role and that other winter sports will follow suit.”