International Luge Federation Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
International Luge Federation
Official website

Sport	Luge
Category	Sports federation
Jurisdiction	International
Abbreviation	FIL
Founded	1957; 68 years ago (1957)
Headquarters	Salzburg, Austria
President	Einars Fogelis

The International Luge Federation (often called FIL) is the main group that organizes and manages all luge sports around the world. Luge is a winter sport where athletes slide down an icy track on a small sled, feet first. The FIL was started in 1957 by 13 countries in Davos, Switzerland. Today, it has members from 53 national luge groups. Its main office is in Berchtesgaden, Germany.

History of Luge and FIL
FIL Competitions and Tracks
- Artificial Luge Tracks
- Natural Luge Tracks
FIL Hall of Fame
FIL Presidents
Member Countries
Major Luge Championships
See also

History of Luge and FIL

How Luge Started

The very first luge race happened on February 12, 1883. It was a four-kilometer course between Davos and Klosters, Switzerland. Two winners, one from Australia and one from Switzerland, finished in 9 minutes and 15 seconds.

In 1913, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland created the Internationaler Schlittensportsverband (ISSV). This means "International Sled Sport Federation." The first European Luge Championships took place in 1914 in Liberec, which is now in the Czech Republic. However, World War I stopped these competitions until 1927.

Becoming Part of a Bigger Group

In 1927, the ISSV started up again. The second European Luge Championships happened the next year in Germany, and this time, women also competed. In 1935, the ISSV joined a larger group called the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT). This group managed both bobsleigh and tobogganing. Luge was a part of the FIBT until the early 1950s.

Luge Becomes Independent

In 1954, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that luge would become a sport in the Winter Olympics. It would replace skeleton, which had been in the Olympics before. Skeleton did not return to the Olympics until 2002.

The first World Luge Championships were held in 1955 near Oslo, Norway. The FIL was officially created in Switzerland in 1957. The IOC then accepted the FIL as a member that same year. Bert Isatitsch from Austria was chosen as the first President of the FIL.

FIL Grows and Changes

At an IOC meeting in 1959, luge was approved for the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Twelve countries competed in these first Olympic luge events. The times were measured to 1/100ths of a second. After a tie in the men's doubles at the 1972 Winter Olympics, the FIL started timing all races to 1/1000ths of a second. This very precise timing is still used today.

The first European championships for natural track luge happened in Austria in 1970. The first World Championships for natural track luge took place in Austria in 1979. Three years later, the first Junior World Championships for artificial track luge were held in Lake Placid, New York, United States.

FIL Today

Bert Isatitsch, the first president, passed away in 1994. Josef Fendt then became the Acting President. Later that year, Fendt was officially named president, and he held this position until 2020.

In 2022, the FIL took action regarding the conflict in Ukraine. They banned all Russian athletes, coaches, and officials from their events. They also suspended Russian officials from their committees and decided that Russia could not host any FIL events. A Russian official, Natalia Gart, was also removed from the FIL Executive Board. In 2025, the French name of the federation was changed to Fédération Internationale de Luge.

FIL Competitions and Tracks

The FIL organizes competitions on two main types of tracks: artificial tracks and natural tracks. These events happen at both European and World Championship levels. At the Winter Olympics, only artificial track competitions are held.

The main events at these championships are:

Men's singles (one person)
Men's doubles (two people)
Women's singles (one person)
Team event (one run each from men's singles, men's doubles, and women's singles)

Artificial Luge Tracks

Artificial tracks are specially built for luge. Their curves are designed and banked, and they have walled-in straight sections. These tracks are made of strong concrete and are kept cold using a cooling system. This makes the tracks very smooth and fast. Athletes can experience forces up to 4g on these tracks, which means they feel four times their body weight.

On most tracks, the starting point for men's singles is near where bobsleigh and skeleton sports start. The starting points for men's doubles and women's singles are usually further down the track. As of 2009, there were sixteen artificial tracks around the world. A new track in Russia, the Sliding Center Sanki, was built for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Natural Luge Tracks

Natural tracks are different. They are made from existing mountain roads and paths. They have a flat track surface and use natural ice. Most of the over 60 natural tracks are found in countries like Austria, Italy, Germany, and many others across Europe and North America.