Saltsjöbaden (pps) Josef Fendt, the President of the International Luge Federation (FIL), commemorated the achievements of the longtime FIL Honorary Member Björn Walden at a memorial service. During the ceremony held in the church in Walden’s home town Saltsjöbaden on September 11, Fendt acknowledged Björn Walden’s longtime commitment to the sport of luge in his funeral speech.
Björn Walden died on August 6, 2009, exactly three months before his 75th birthday. He had been President of the Swedish Luge Federation for 21 years and Vice-President of the FIL for eight years. During this time he rendered outstanding services to the sport of luge, which include his active participation in the 1957 FIL Congress in Davos/SUI, where the FIL was founded as the autonomous International Luge Federation.
Björn Walden demonstrated great commitment and expert knowledge in many national and international functions. For his achievements for the sport of luge, he was awarded the FIL Medal of Honor in bronze, silver and gold, and later became Honorary Member of the FIL.
