Berchtesgaden (RWH) The latest Honorary Member of the IBSF (International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation / IBSF) is celebrating a special birthday. Josef Fendt, appointed Honorary Member at the IBSF Congress in Lausanne in mid-June, celebrates his 75th birthday on 6 October. As an active athlete, the jubilarian was twice World Champion and Olympic runner-up in luge and then later President of the International Luge Federation (FIL) for 26 years.
During his official farewell as FIL President in 2021, Fendt received the Olympic Order of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from IBSF President Ivo Ferriani.
"During his more than 20-year term as FIL President, Sepp Fendt was always a loyal partner of the IBSF when it came to the interests of the sliding sport in general," IBSF President Ivo Ferriani had said in his laudation in Lausanne. Ferriani: "His great experience on the international level helped our federation especially in the last 12 years."
Fendt was and is a man of balance. A good cooperation with the sister federation IBSF was an important concern for Fendt, if only to secure the Olympic existence for both world federations. Therefore, a joint strategy in the field of track construction was agreed upon and also implemented. The close coordination of track use worldwide was an important concern for him, which he pushed together with President Ferriani.
Thanks to his commitment, the Team Relay was included in the programme of the 2014 Winter Olympics as an additional luge discipline. Fendt was instrumental in initiating the introduction of standardised crash helmets and established the free ride system for training at all the world's tracks.
Fotos: RWH / IBSF - Viesturs Lacis
