“FIL is a sound and successful international Olympic Federation”
Riga (pps) The President of the International Luge Federation (FIL), Josef Fendt from Berchtesgaden, has drawn an honest balance of the past ten years during the 60th Congress in Riga, Latvia. “We had a lot of positive but some negative elements”, said Fendt, he himself a former two-time World champion (in 1970 and 1974), in front of delegates from 31 nations.
During the course of his review, Fendt also brought to mind positive issues such as the inauguration of the “Hall of Fame” in 2003, the recognition of luge by the International Olympic Committee as a key sports in 2007 as well as in the same year the 50th anniversary celebrations of the FIL. The 64-year-old also reminded the delegates of the inclusion of the Team Relay Event within the program of the upcoming 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the successful première of the Youth Olympic Games this past winter.
However, Fendt did not eschew to mention negative incidents such as the death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili of Georgia on the opening day of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada and the refusal to include luge on natural tracks as an Olympic discipline in the year 2005.
„The FIL presents itself as a very sound and successful Olympic federation,” described FIL President Fendt the situation. By way of example Fendt, who became FIL President in 1994, mentioned the solid financial state, the pleasant situation with regard to the sponsor’s support thanks to the long-time FIL partners Viessmann and Eberspaecher as well as a positive development with regard to TV transmissions.
As far as the luge sport is concerned, Fendt referred to the positive number of 30 nations who participated in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series. And regarding the junior World Cup, Fendt stressed the fact that as many as ten nations had earned at least one medal last season.
This is why the general balance turned out to be positive: “As a summary I can conclude that the FIL is in a very good position. Now it should be our common goal to further strengthen this status and improve the situation here or there”, Fendt concluded.
