Luge Luge Lyonesse Category="Luge"Category="Olympic sports"A luge is small one- or two-person Sled on which one sleighs supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners or pulling straps attached to the sled's runners. Luge is also the name of the Sport which involves racing with such sleds.

History

The first organised meeting of the sport took place in 1883 in Switzerland. In 1913, the Internationale Schlittensportverband or International Sled Sports Federation, was founded in Dresden (Germany). This body governed the sport until 1935, when it was incorporated in the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT, International Bobsleigh and Tobagganing Federation). After it had been decided that luge would replace the sport of skeleton at the Olympic Games, the first World Championships in the sport were held in 1955 in Oslo (Norway). In 1957, the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (FIL, International Luge Federation) is founded. Luge events were included in the Olympic Winter Games in 1964.

Rules

The rules are fairly simple in luge. The course is timed, and the athlete must depart from the start handles within a certain time once the track is declared clear.

There are weight restrictions on the sleds, as well as restrictions on the design and construction. The 'steels' (the metal blades on the bottom of the runners on which the sled slides) must be within a certain temperature range relative to the air temperature. There are also weight restrictions on the athletes, as well as many other restrictions related to equipment including speedsuits, booties, helmets, gloves, spikes, etc.

Like other timed sports, qualifying determines start position, important during deteriorating track conditions. Overall time is an aggregate of two or more runs down the course.

Competition format

Luge can take place on two kinds of tracks, artificial tracks and natural tracks. Artificial tracks contains curves specially prepared for the sport, and even the ice on the track may be refrigerated. Natural tracks have no such adaptations. Most luge tracks, including almost all natural tracks, are located in Alpine countries: Some artificial tracks exist in: usually built for the Olympic Games.

Two different events are held in luge, events for single-seaters and events for double-seaters. Technically, women are allowed to compete in doubles, but doubles competitors continue to be almost exclusively male. Additionally, at major championships, a team competition is held, where one man, one woman and a doubles team form a team. Such teams may consists of athletes of two different nations when each nation cannot field a full team.

Governing body

The sport of luge is governed by the FIL, Fédération International de Luge de Course (see FIL Website). The FIL is located in Germany and is dominated by German representatives.

The following persons have been president of the FIL:

Champions

External links