Bert Isatitsch

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Bert Isatitsch (September 14, 1911 – February 8, 1994) was an Austrian educator who later became the first president of the International Luge Federation (FIL), serving from its 1957 establishment until his 1994 death.

[edit] Education career

Born in Fürstenfeld, Isatitsch became a special education teacher in Rottenmann.[1] He later became chair for all special education schools in his native Austria.[2] Isatitsch would use his skills as an educator to bring leadership into the growth of luge as an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-recognized sport.[2]

[edit] Luge career

A lover of winter sports, Isatitsch defined the premises of luge when it was part of the "Section de Luge" within the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation) after World War II.[2] Istatisch would serve as section president in the FIBT from 1948 to 1956.[1] By 1952, he became chair of the Austrian Luge Federation, a position he also held until his 1994 death.[2] Isatitsch's leadership would lead to the FIL (Federation Internationale de Luge de Course) being created in 1957 following its split from the FIBT in 1957.[2] Luge replaced skeleton as a Winter Olympic discipline in 1954 (Skeleton would return for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City) and be approved for inclusion at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.[3] Luge was initially approved for inclusion at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, but was postponed until 1964 because of the American Luge Federation's lack of Olympic experience[2] as well as the 1960 Games organizers' unwillingness to construct a bobsleigh track.[4] Natural track luge world championships would be added in 1979.[3] He served until his sudden death on February 8, 1994.[3] Josef Fendt of Germany succeeded Istatisch as president later that year.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Luge and Olympism". Olympic Review. December 1983. p. 855.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Obituary: Bert Isatitsch." Olympic Review. May 1994. p. 190.
  3. ^ a b c d FIL-Luge.org history. - accessed April 9, 2008.
  4. ^ International Olympic Committee 1960 Winter Olympics Did You Know facts. - accessed April 9, 2008.