Luge returns to its Olympic roots
Innsbruck (pps) Celebrating the premiere of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Innsbruck the sport of luge will return to its Olympic roots. On the artificially refrigerated track at the foot of the Patcherkofel Mountain that was built in 1976 in the exact spot where the first Olympic luge event was carried out in 1964 (at that time on a natural track), medals will be awarded in the women’s and men’s singles, the doubles and for the first time in the Team Relay Event.
By the way, in the men’s and women’s singles Thomas Koehler and Ortrun Enderlein of the then all-German team went down in the history books of the International Luge Federation as the first Olympic luge Champions. The first Olympic doubles Champions were Josef Feistmantl and Manfred Stengl of Austria.
A total of 24 women, 25 men and 11 doubles teams from 21 nations will compete in the luge events in Innsbruck. Allowed – and specifically welcomed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – are mixed gender teams. However, only athletes from a maximum of two national member federations are allowed to build such a team.
At the first Youth Olympic Games (January 13-22, 2012) a total of 1,059 athletes between the age of 14 and 18 will fight for gold, silver and bronze in 63 events. Thus, there are more athletes and more medal events than at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck. The IOC anticipates the participation of athletes from more than 60 nations. However, the first Winter YOG will not only be a fight for medals but will establish a multifaceted “Cultural and Education Program”.
The budget for the event amounts to 23.7 million Euros – without taking into consideration the new construction of the third Olympic village or the ski flying hill in Seefeld. The opening ceremony for the Winter YOG will be held at the ski stadium at the Bergisel on Friday (January 13, 2012).
