Saltsjöbaden (pps) Björn Walden, FIL Honorary Member from Sweden, died on August 6, 2009, exactly three months before his 75th birthday. Björn Walden was 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 finally became Honorary Member of the FIL.
