The artificial track for luge, bobsled and skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre passed its first endurance test for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.(Getty Images)Whistler Sliding Centre Passes First Endurance Test Despite Several Crashes
(ATR) The artificial track for luge, bobsled and skeleton in Whistler, British Columbia passed its first endurance test, despite several crashes, for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver during the training week of the International Luge Federation (FIL).
The test included extensive FIL safety precautions, with a systematic training compulsory for all participants.
“I personally think the track is great – however, it has to be perfectly groomed,” German Federation Sport Director Thomas Schwab said. “This was excellent – quality as usual in Canada.”
The Whistler Sliding Centre is one of 15 artificial tracks in the world today. The track has 16 curves and is 1,450 meters long.
FIS Council Holds Autumn Meeting
FIS recently approved calendars for ski jumping for the next four years.(VESA MOILANEN/AFP/Getty Images) The International Ski Federation (FIS) Council dealt with several issues at its autumn meeting in Levi, Finland last week, held in conjunction with the slalom opening of the 2008-09 Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season.
The council approved minor modifications to the FIS World Cup Calendars for the 2009-10 season for all disciplines, with calendars approved for cross country, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle and snowboard for the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
The men’s and women’s Alpine calendars were also approved.
The council also endorsed a revision of the international competition rules for Nordic combined, adapting the competition format by reducing the ski jumping event to one round and standardizing the cross-country race to 10 km.
Doping was another issue the council dealt with as it signed off on amendments to the procedural guidelines in regard to blood testing.
…Briefs
…A total of 20 countries have registered for the International Ski Federation’s (FIS) Tour de Ski, set to start in December. The Tour de Ski is a cross-country skiing tour stopping in three countries in Europe. The first leg is in Oberhof, Germany on Dec. 27 and 28. FIS expects as many as 140 participants from traditional powerhouses in the sport, and places like Greece, South Africa and Andorra.
...Ticketing procedures for the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship were announced last Wednesday. The Organizing Committee of the 2010 IIHF World Championship announced that a four-stage ticketing program will begin in early 2009. Preliminary Round packages for Cologne and Mannheim, event packages for both venues up to the quarterfinals and event packages for all games in Cologne will be on sale. Single game tickets will be available in 2010. Prices range from $11 to $205. Tickets can be purchased at www.iihfworlds2010.com
…The International Bobsleigh and Toboggan Federation (FIBT) cancelled the World Cup races scheduled for January 5-11 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. FIBT cited a “technical issue with the track” for the cancellation. Koenigssee, Germany will The 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship has been awarded to Canada.(Getty Images)host the event.
…The Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation launched an exhibit celebrating its century-long existence. The exhibition opened at the Belgian sport museum Sportimonium last Thursday and will run until Dec. 15.
…The 2010 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship has been awarded to Canada, with the competition to be held in Swift Current, Saskatchewan March 20-28. The 12-team competition will be contested at the Credit Union i-plex, a curling rink/hockey arena complex. The arena will seat approximately 2,400 for the championship, along with a number of corporate suites.
It will be the second time that a world women’s curling championship is to be held in Saskatchewan, with the event last held there in 1983 in Moose Jaw.
…Kralupy nad Vltavou, Czech Republic and Segeltorp, Sweden have been selected as the venues for the second round of the 2008-09 IIHF European Women’s Champion Cup Dec. 5-7. Teams playing in Kralupy nad Vltavou, north of Prague, are Aisulu Almaty (Kazakhstan), the Espoo Blues (Finland), Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) and the Herley Hornets (Denmark).
Those in Segeltorp, a suburb of Stockholm, are host Segeltorps IF (Sweden) along with ESC Planegg-Wurntal (Germany) and SKIF Moscow Region (Russia).
The top teams in each second-round group will advance to the final tournament Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009. The venue for the finals has yet to be determined.
With reporting by Greg Oshustand Ed Hula III.
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