Three Bids For Luge Championships; Surfing Member Increase -- Federation Focus

(ATR)Three national federations are competing to host the 2019 world luge championships.

Winterberg, Germany, Lake Placid, United States and Sochi, Russia have submitted bids to the International Luge Federation.

Lake Placid hosted the event in 1983 and 2009, and Winterberg hosted two championships in three years between 1989-1991.Sochi has never hosted the event, but ran a successful Winter Olympics in 2014 and has an Olympic certified artificial track.

The FIL will make their final selection at their annual congress June 20 in PyeongChang, South Korea.

ISA Welcomes Two New Members

Scotland and Finland have joined the International Surfing Association.

Their addition makes 96 total member federations. In the last two years alone, the ISA has added 17 new member federations.

"Surfing is a unique and modern blend of sport performance, style and culture infused with dynamic energy – making it especially relevant for young people," Fernando Aguerre, President of the ISA,said in a statement.

Surfing's expansion can be attributed to the goal of making surfing an Olympic sport in the near future.

Richmond 2015 Banking

Banking services for the 2015 World Road Cycling Championships will be provided by TowneBank.

TowneBank, and locally headquartered bank, will work with the Richmond 2015 organizers to create a calendar of engagement events in the city called"Happenings Around Towne."

"The partnership with Richmond 2015 is the perfect way for us to introduce our community banking philosophy to our new neighbors in the greater Richmond area and to support Richmond as it welcomes the world," T. Patrick "Pat" Collins, president of TowneBank Richmond, said in a statement.

Richmond is the first cycling world championship to be held in the United States since 1986.The championship takes place from September 19 through the 27.

Usain Bolt's Expectations for Rio 2016

Usain Bolt wants to make history at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio.

Bolt will attempt to be the first person to win the 100m and 200m track events in three straight Olympics. He says he can break the 200m record once again in Rio.

"The 200m (world record) is definitely on the ‘to-do list’ for me, " Bolt said in an interview with Rio 2016.

"It’s the Olympics, it’s the biggest stage, so the opposition will be tough and it will be extremely exciting, and the possibility of a world record is always there."

This will be Bolt’s last chance to win Olympic gold, and wants to win what he calls the "triple-triple."

"That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited," he said.

"It’s going to be a big goal for me, so I need to use this season to make sure I’m on track to get here next year… the season is going well so far so I am happy and excited."

Written by Kevin Nutley

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