FIL mourns former Executive Board member Josef Benz

St. Moritz (FIL) The International Luge Federation, FIL, mourns the death of former Executive Board member Josef "Sepp" Benz from Switzerland. The 76-year-old had passed away from COVID-19 on Friday, February 5, 2021.

From 2007 to 2014, Josef Benz was Chairman of the FIL Sport Commission and a member of the FIL Executive Board.

Sepp Benz was born on May 20, 1944 in Zurich and was active as a successful bobsled athlete for the Swiss national team in the mid-1970s to early 1980s.
He participated in two Winter Olympics and won four medals: one gold (two-man bobsled: 1980), two silver (four-man bobsled: 1976, 1980) and one bronze (two-man bobsled: 1976).

After finishing his career, he supported the International Luge Federation with great enthusiasm and was one of the fathers of the Team Relay, which is considered the most spectacular luge discipline.

FIL President Einars Fogelis: "We are deeply saddened and mourn the loss of our sports friend Sepp Benz. Before the start of the EBERSPÄCHER Men's World Cup on Saturday, February 6, 2021 in St. Moritz, we will commemorate Sepp in a minute of silence."

FIL Executive Director Christoph Schweiger adds: "Sepp would have been very happy to be here with us for the World Cup final in St. Moritz, for whose short-term realization he personally still strongly committed himself".