Innsbruck-Igls (pps) „This was one of the best, if not the best World Championships I’ve experienced. And I’ve seen quite a few”, said two-time Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy, who captured the first of his altogether five World Championship titles in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1995. “Even better than at the Olympics,” declared US luger Mark Grimmette. “We want to thank the organisers for setting up such outstanding World Championships here in Igls”, remarked Patric Leitner of Germany.

This unfettered praise of the athletes was directed at the 39 th World Championships of the International Luge Federation, FIL. Well over 12,000 spectators – more than expected – followed the events on the newly renovated track in Innsbruck-Igls. The renewal of the 1976 Olympic track cost about ten million Euro.

“Igls has set new standards”, praised FIL President Josef Fendt. “The atmosphere at the track was simply great, it’s 31 years ago I’ve experienced something similar”, Fendt further explained. The two-time World champion referred to the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, when today’s FIL President won the Olympic silver medal. In 2007, Tatjana Huefner took the gold medal in the women’s singles, David Moeller won the men’s singles event, Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch (Germany) achieved gold in the doubles’ event. Already on Friday the German team grabbed the gold medal in the team competition.