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Luge
(www.olympic.org)
Updated: 2006-02-10 14:30
Luge is the French word for sled, and historical findings point to the
existence of sleds, as early as AD 800 with the Vikings in the Slagen
countryside near the Oslo Fjord. The Vikings are believed to have had sleds with
two runners, which resemble the modern-day version. The first international sled
race occurred in 1883 in Davos, Switzerland, with 21 competitors from Australia,
England, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.
This race took place over 4km and was won by Georg Robertson, a student from
Australia, and Peter Minsch, a mailman from Klosters. Both finished the race in
just over nine minutes.
An unidentified luge speeds down during a free
practice in the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton Olympic track in Cesana
Pariol February 4, 2006. [Reuters] |
The first World Championships occurred on an artificial track in Oslo in
1955. Two years later, the International Luge Federation (FIL) was founded in
Davos and remains the governing body of luge today. Luge made its Olympic debut
at the 1964 Games.
Singles
In men's and women's singles, athletes
take four runs down the track. Each run counts. The four times are added, and
the fastest total time determines the winner. The competition takes two days to
complete (two runs per day). Men and women compete on the same track, but the
women start from a position further down the course.
The four-run format is unique to the Olympic Winter Games and is designed to
reward consistency, endurance and ability to withstand pressure, particularly on
the second day. At most events, such as the World Championships and World Cup
races, singles are contested over two runs.
Doubles
Doubles luge is a one-day competition in which pairs of athletes
take two runs down a course. Each run counts. The fastest total time determines
the winner. The two-run format also is used in World Championships and World Cup
races. There is no rule that says a doubles team must comprise members of the
same sex, but traditionally, men have ridden together, with the larger man lying
on top for a more aerodynamic fit.
LIST OF EVENTS
doubles Mixed
singles Men
singles Women
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