Bert Isatitsch
Encyclopedia
Bert Isatitsch was an Austria
n educator
who later became the first president of the International Luge Federation (FIL), serving from its 1957
establishment until his 1994 death.
, Isatitsch became a special education
teacher in Rottenmann
. He later became chair for all special education schools in his native Austria
. Isatitsch would use his skills as an educator to bring leadership into the growth of luge
as an International Olympic Committee
(IOC)-recognized sport.
(FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation) after World War II
. Istatisch would serve as section president in the FIBT from 1948 to 1956. By 1952, he became chair of the Austrian Luge Federation
, a position he also held until his 1994 death. 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. 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
. 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 as well as the 1960 Games organizers' unwillingness to construct a bobsleigh
track. Natural track luge world championships
would be added in 1979
. He served until his sudden death on February 8, 1994. Josef Fendt
of Germany
succeeded Istatisch as president later that year.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n educator
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
who later became the first president of the International Luge Federation (FIL), serving from its 1957
1957 in sports
1957 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* NFL Championship – Detroit Lions won 59-14 over the Cleveland Browns.*College football champions Auburn University-Association football:...
establishment until his 1994 death.
Education career
Born in FürstenfeldFürstenfeld
Fürstenfeld is a town and a district in southeastern Austria. It is situated within the Austrian federal state of StyriaAccording to the 2005 census, Fürstenfeld has 5,986 citizens within its communal area, the larger urban area of Fürstenfeld includes approximately 20% more citizens.Fürstenfeld...
, Isatitsch became a special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
teacher in Rottenmann
Rottenmann
Rottenmann is a town in Styria in Austria, near the Rottenmanner Tauern. As of 2008, it has a population of 5.341....
. He later became chair for all special education schools in his native Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Isatitsch would use his skills as an educator to bring leadership into the growth of luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
as an International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC)-recognized sport.
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 TobogganingFédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
The Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing or International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation is the main international federation for all bobsleigh and skeleton sports...
(FIBT - International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation) after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Istatisch would serve as section president in the FIBT from 1948 to 1956. By 1952, he became chair of the Austrian Luge Federation
Austrian Luge Federation
The Austrian Luge Federation is the official federation for luge in Austria. It serves as the Austrian representative for the International Luge Federation and is part of the Österreichisches Olympisches Comité .ÖRV is headquartered in Innsbruck....
, a position he also held until his 1994 death. Isatitsch's leadership would lead to the FIL (Federation Internationale de Luge de Course
Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course
The International Luge Federation is the main international federation for all luge sports...
) being created in 1957 following its split from the FIBT in 1957. Luge replaced skeleton
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
as a Winter Olympic discipline in 1954 (Skeleton would return for the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City) and be approved for inclusion at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
. Luge was initially approved for inclusion at the 1960 Winter Olympics
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
in Squaw Valley, but was postponed until 1964 because of the American Luge Federation's lack of Olympic experience as well as the 1960 Games organizers' unwillingness to construct a bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
track. Natural track luge world championships
FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships
The FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships, part of the International Luge Federation have taken place on an almost annual basis in non-Winter Olympics years since 1979. These championships are shown for natural tracks...
would be added in 1979
FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships 1979
-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
. He served until his sudden death on February 8, 1994. Josef Fendt
Josef Fendt
Josef Fendt is the current president of the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course . He was a West German-German luger who competed from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
succeeded Istatisch as president later that year.