Berchtesgaden (pps) The International Luge Federation, FIL, has given a small but exquisite retirement party for the long-time Executive Director Hartmut Kardaetz at the guesthouse “Auerwirt” in Berchtesgaden-Oberau. Guests, among others, were Franz Rasp, Mayor of Berchtesgaden, former national coach Sepp Lenz and Markus Aschauer, who is in charge of the track in Koenigssee. In a speech, FIL President Josef Fendt and his deputy Harald Steyrer looked back upon the 17 year-long career of Kardaetz with the International Luge Federation. “The FIL once again gives proof of its progressiveness – we have already raised the retirement age as requested by the German government,” said Fendt and also referred to the long list of numerous talents of the 66 year-old Executive Director (weightlifter, football and tennis player, musician, best grilled sausages in Berlin). The FIL offered Hartmut Kardaetz a gift basket filled with a selection of good wines from ten different countries as well as an invitation together with his wife Ingrid as VIP guests to the Viessmann World Cup start 2010 in Innsbruck-Igls. Markus Aschauer invited the future retiree and his wife Ingrid to attend the Viessmann Luge World Cup event on the artificially-iced track in Koenigssee on January 5-6, 2011as VIP guests.