International luge governing body
The
International Luge Federation
(
French
:
Federation Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL)
;
German
:
Internationaler Rennrodelverband
) is the main international federation for all
luge
sports. Founded by 13 nations at
Davos
, Switzerland in 1957, it has members of 53 national luge associations as of 2009
[update]
and is based in
Berchtesgaden
, Germany. In reaction to the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
, in March 2022 the FIL banned all Russian athletes, coaches, and officials from its events, suspended all Russian officials appointed to its Commissions and Working Groups, and deemed Russia ineligible to host any of its events.
[1]
History
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]
Early beginnings
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The first
luge
competition took place on February 12, 1883, on a four-kilometer course between
Davos
and
Klosters
, Switzerland, with the co-winners from Australia and Switzerland having a time of 9 minutes, 15 seconds. Austria, Germany, and Switzerland founded the
Internationaler Schlittensportsverband
(ISSV - International Sled Sport Federation
(in German)
) in 1913 in
Dresden
, Germany. The first
European Luge Championships
took place in
Reichenberg
,
Bohemia
(now
Liberec
,
Czech Republic
) in 1914.
World War I
in Europe caused the ISSV operations to be suspended and prevented any additional competitions until 1927.
Rebirth and merging into FIBT
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In 1927, the ISSV was reestablished with the second European Luge Championships taking place in
Schreiberhau
, Germany (now
Szklarska Por?ba
, Poland) the following year with a women's competition included. The ISSV was absorbed into the
Federation Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
(FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobagganing Federation
(in French)
) in 1935 and was part of the "Section de Luge" until the early 1950s.
Independence from FIBT
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]
At a 1954
International Olympic Committee
(IOC) meeting in Athens, Greece, it was determined that luge would replace
skeleton
as a
Winter Olympic
discipline. Skeleton, which had been a sport both at the
1928
and
1948 Winter Olympics
, would not return as an Olympic sport until the
2002 Winter Olympics
in
Salt Lake City
. In 1955, the first
World Luge Championships
were held at
Holmenkollen
near
Oslo
,
Norway
. The FIL was established in Switzerland in 1957 with membership granted into the IOC at their congress in
Sofia
,
Bulgaria
that same year.
Bert Isatitsch
of Austria was elected President of the FIL.
FIL growth
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At the 1959 IOC meeting in
Munich
,
West Germany
, luge was approved for inclusion into the
1964 Winter Olympics
in
Innsbruck
with competitions taking place in neighboring
Igls
. 12 nations took part in the first Winter Olympic luge competitions with timing taking place in 1/100ths of a second. Following a tie in the men's doubles competition between
East Germany
and
Italy
at the
1972 Winter Olympics
in
Sapporo
, Japan, the FIL began timing all of their competition in 1/1000ths of a second, a practice that continues as of 2009. The first
natural track European championships
took place in
Kapfenberg
, Austria in 1970 while the first
natural track World Championships
took place in
Inzing
, Austria in 1979. The first Junior World Championships on artificial track took place at
Lake Placid, New York
,
United States
three years later.
FIL today
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Isatitich died suddenly on February 8, 1994, and then Vice-President for Sport
Josef Fendt
took over as Acting President. Fendt would be named president at the FIL congress in Rome, Italy later that year, a position he held until 2020.
In reaction to the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
, in March 2022 the FIL banned all Russian athletes, coaches, and officials from its events, suspended all Russian officials appointed to its Commissions and Working Groups, and deemed Russia ineligible to host any of its events.
[1]
Also in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian Luge Federation's Natalia Gart was expelled from the FIL Executive Board.
[2]
FIL events
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The FIL governs competitions on artificial tracks and natural tracks at both the
European
and World Championship levels. At the Winter Olympics, only artificial track competitions are contested. The events at the European and World Championships are men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, and a team event consisting of one run each from men's singles, men's doubles, and women's singles.
Artificial tracks are tracks that have their curves specifically designed and banked with walled-in straightaways. Made of
reinforced concrete
and cooled with
ammonia
refrigeration
, these tracks are smooth and have
g-forces
of up to 4g (Four times the athlete's body weight). Men's singles on most tracks have their start house close to the
bobsleigh
and skeleton start locations while both the men's doubles and women's singles have their start house located further down the track. As of 2009, there are sixteen
bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton artificial tracks
worldwide with a 17th track near
Moscow
that will host Junior World Cup events in November 2009. Another track in
Russia
near
Sochi
, the
Sliding Center Sanki
, will be in use for the
2014 Winter Olympics
, had construction started in May 2009 following controversies at a previous location over track start heights and it being near
World Heritage Site
, including near an endangered species of
brown bear
.
Natural tracks are tracks adapted from existing mountain roads and paths, including a horizontal track surface and natural track icing. Most of the over 60 tracks are located in Austria, Italy, Germany, Poland, Canada, the United States, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Croatia, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, New Zealand and
Slovenia
.
FIL Hall of Fame
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In 2004, the FIL established a Hall of Fame for the greatest competitors in luge. As of 2008, there have been a total of six inductees.
FIL Presidents
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Since its founding in 1957, FIL has had three presidents,
Bert Isatitsch
from Austria (1957?94),
Josef Fendt
from Germany (1994?2020), and
Einars Fogelis
(2020-current) from Latvia.
Members
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53 nations in June 2021:
[4]
Asia (7)
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-
China
- Chinese Luge Association
-
India
-
Luge Federation of India
-
Japan
- Japan Bobsleigh and Luge Federation
-
Kazakhstan
- Luge Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan
-
South Korea
- Korea Luge Federation
-
Kuwait
- Kuwait Luge Committee
-
Chinese Taipei
- Chinese Taipei Luge and Bobsleigh Association
Oceania (3)
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-
Australia
-
Luge Australia
-
New Zealand
- New Zealand Olympic Luge Association
-
Tonga
- Luge Association of the Kingdom of Tonga
Americas (8)
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-
Argentina
- Asociacion Argentina De Bobsleigh Y Skeleton- Luge
-
Bermuda
- Bermuda Bobsled Skeleton & Luge Association
-
Brazil
- Confederacao Brasileira De Desportos No Gelo
-
Canada
-
Canadian Luge Association
(Cla)
-
United States Virgin Islands
- Virgin Islands Luge Federation
-
Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico Winter Sports Federation
-
United States
- United States Luge Association
-
Venezuela
- Federacion Venezolana De Deportes De Invierno
Europe (35)
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]
-
Andorra
- Association Andorrana De Luges Esqui Club D'Andorra
-
Austria
-
Osterreichischer Rodelverband
-
Belgium
- Association Belge De Luge De Course
-
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sankaski Savez Bosne I Hercegovine
-
Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Luge Federation
-
Croatia
- Croatian Bobsleigh, Skeleton & Luge Federation
-
Czech Republic
- Ceskomoravska Sankarska Asociace
-
Spain
- Federacion Espanola Deportes De Hielo
-
Estonia
- Estonian Association of Luge Sports
-
Finland
- Suomen Kelkkailuliitto
-
France
- Federation Francaise Des Sports De Glace
-
United Kingdom
- Great Britain Luge Association
-
Georgia
- Luge Federation of the Republic of Georgia
-
Germany
-
Bob- Und Schlittenverband Fur Deutschland (Bsd)
-
Greece
- Hellenic Ice Sports Federation
-
Hungary
- Ungarischer Rennrodelverband
-
Ireland
- Irish Luge Federation
-
Italy
-
Federazione Italiana Sport Invernali
-
Latvia
- Latvian Luge Federation
-
Liechtenstein
- Rodelverband Liechtenstein
-
Lithuania
-
Lithuanian Luge Federation
-
Moldova
- Federatia De Schi Si Sanie Din Republica Moldova
-
Netherlands
- Bob En Slee Bond Nederland (Bsbn) C/O Nederlandse Ski Vereniging
-
Norway
- Norges Ake -, Bob- Og Skeleton Forbund (Nabsf)
-
Poland
- Polski Zwiazek Sportow Saneczkowych
-
Portugal
- FEDERACAO DE DESPORTOS DE INVERNO DE PORTUGAL
-
Romania
- Federatia Romana De Bob-Sanie
-
Russia
- Russischer Rennrodelverband
-
Slovenia
- Sankaska Zveza Slovenije
-
Switzerland
- Schweizer Bobsleigh - Schlitten Und Skeleton Sportverband
-
Slovakia
- Slovensky Zvaz Sankarov
-
Sweden
- Svenska Bob Och Rodelforbundet
-
Turkey
- Turkish Bobsleigh- Skeleton and Luge Federation
-
Ukraine
- Rennrodelverband Der Ukraine
-
Serbia
- Serbia Luge Association
Championships
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Results:
[5]
References
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External links
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