Innsbruck (RWH) The President of the International Luge Federation (FIL), Josef Fendt of Berchtesgaden gave a very positive review of the Olympic winter. “As far as our sport of luge is concerned, we can look back upon one of the most successful years. We have seen great sport at the season’s highlight – the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi,” said the 1976 Olympic silver medalist at the 62nd FIL Congress in Innsbruck (Austria).

“Exciting competitions, a lot of spectators, a stunning atmosphere at the track, best track conditions, record TV audience world-wide as well as – and that’s what I was most proud of – an excellent première of our new Olympic discipline with 12 teams competing in the FIL Team Relay event,” Fendt said in his report.

Lugers from a total of 36 nations from four continents competed - in artificial track - in the 16 FIL events that comprised 113 competitions in the senior and junior circuits. A total of 140 sleds from altogether 27 nations participated in the various youth and junior events. “At the FIL Junior World Championships in Igls alone, athletes from 24 different nations competed,” explained Fendt. In natural track, 19 nations participated in the World Cup events while a total of 14 nations competed at the Junior World Championships.