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{{Infobox sport governing body
{{Infobox sport governing body
| name = International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
| name = International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
| abbrev =
| logo = IBSF official logo.png
| logo = IBSF official logo.png
| logosize = 240px
| logosize = 240px
| sport = [[Bobsleigh]] and [[Skeleton (sport)|Skeleton]]
| sport = [[Bobsleigh]] and [[Skeleton (sport)|skeleton]]
| category =
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| jurisdiction = International
| jurisdiction = International
| founded =
| founded ={{start date and age|1923|11|23|df=y}}
| aff =
| affdate =
| headquarters = [[Lausanne]], Switzerland
| headquarters = [[Lausanne]], Switzerland
| location =
| president = [[Ivo Ferriani]] (2010–present)
| president = [[Ivo Ferriani]] (2010–present)
| replaced ={{lang|fr|Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing}} (FIBT)
| chairman =
| chairperson =
| chair =
| chiefexec =
| vicepresident =
| director =
| secretary =
| coach =
| womenscoach =
| key staff =
| operating income =
| sponsor =
| year closed =
| replaced =
| prevfounded =
| url = https://www.ibsf.org/
| url = https://www.ibsf.org/
}}
}}


The '''International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation''' ('''IBSF'''), originally known by the [[French language|French]] name ''Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing'' (FIBT), is the international sports federation for [[bobsleigh]] and [[skeleton (sport)|skeleton]]. It acts as an umbrella organization for 14 national bobsleigh and skeleton associations {{As of|2007|lc=on}}. It was founded on 23 November 1923 by the delegates of Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States at the meeting of their first International Congress in Paris, France. In June 2015, it announced a name change from FIBT to IBSF. The federation's headquarters are in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibsf.org/ibsf-federation/organization.html |title=Organization |website=IBSF.org |publisher=International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614023405/http://www.ibsf.org/ibsf-federation/organization.html |archivedate=2015-06-14 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The '''International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation''' ('''IBSF''') is the international sports federation for the sliding sports of [[Bobsleigh]] and [[skeleton (sport)|Skeleton]]. It was founded on 23 November 1923 by the delegates of Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States at the meeting of their first International Congress in Paris, France. In June 2015, it announced a name change from FIBT to IBSF. The federation's headquarters are in [[Lausanne]], Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ibsf.org/ibsf-federation/organization.html |title=Organization |website=IBSF.org |publisher=International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614023405/http://www.ibsf.org/ibsf-federation/organization.html |archivedate=2015-06-14 |url-status=live}}</ref>


The IBSF works closely with the [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] to conduct [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]] every four years. Along with the Winter Olympics, the IBSF hosts World Championships the other three years. The races are hosted on [[List of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks|tracks]] in North America, Europe, and Asia. The tracks are shared with the sport of [[Luge]], although that is managed under a different governing body, the [[International Luge Federation]].
After the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the federation suspended the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120105/ibsf-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-ban|title = IBSF suspends Russia and Belarus from participating at events| date=5 March 2022 }}</ref> It also suspended the Bobsleigh Federation of Russia until its next Congress in July 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1120105/ibsf-russian-and-belarusian-athletes-ban|title = IBSF suspends Russia and Belarus from participating at events| date=5 March 2022 }}</ref> where the suspension was renewed until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/22663-ibsf-congress-votes-to-suspend-russian-athletes-from-ibsf-competitions|title = IBSF Congress votes to suspend Russian athletes from IBSF competitions |website=IBSF.org |date=2022-07-15}}</ref>


==History of bobsleigh==
==History of Bobsleigh==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2014}}
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2014}}
[[File:2020-02-29 1st run 4-man bobsleigh (Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships Altenberg 2020) by Sandro Halank–302.jpg|thumb|A 4-man bobsled team loading into the sled at the beginning of a race]]
The world's first bobsleigh club was founded in [[St. Moritz]], [[Switzerland]] in 1897. By 1904, competitions were taking place on natural ice courses ([[St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun|Olympia Bobrun St. Moritz-Celerina]]). This growth led to the creation of the FIBT in 1923 with inclusion into the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) the following year. At the [[1924 Winter Olympics]] in [[Chamonix]], the four-man event took place. In 1930, the first [[FIBT World Championships]] took place with the four-man event in [[Caux-sur-Montreux]], Switzerland with the first two-man event taking place in [[Oberhof, Germany]] the following year. At the [[1932 Winter Olympics]] in [[Lake Placid, New York]], the two-man competition debuted. In 1935, the Internationaler Schlittensportsverband (ISSV – International Sled Sport Federation in {{in lang|de}}), a forerunner to the [[Federation Internationale de Luge de Course]] (FIL – [[International Luge Federation]] in {{in lang|fr}}), was absorbed into the FIBT and a Section de Luge was created. The luge section would be abolished when the FIL was split off in 1957.
The world's first bobsleigh club was founded in [[St. Moritz]], [[Switzerland]] in 1897. By 1904, competitions were taking place on natural ice courses ([[St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun|Olympia Bobrun St. Moritz-Celerina]]). This growth led to the creation of the FIBT in 1923 with inclusion into the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) the following year. Before the IBSF, the organization was originally known by the [[French language|French]] name {{lang|fr|Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing}} (FIBT). At the [[1924 Winter Olympics]] in [[Chamonix]], the four-man event took place. In 1930, the first [[FIBT World Championships]] took place with the four-man event in [[Caux-sur-Montreux]], Switzerland with the first two-man event taking place in [[Oberhof, Germany]] the following year. At the [[1932 Winter Olympics]] in [[Lake Placid, New York|Lake Placid]], the two-man competition debuted. In 1935, a forerunner to the [[International Luge Federation]], was absorbed into the FIBT and a "Section de Luge" was created. The luge section would be abolished when the FIL was split off in 1957.<ref name=":0" />


Because of the growing weight issue at the [[1952 Winter Olympics]], the first changes occurred when weight limits were introduced. Since then, configurations to the tracks and the bobsleigh itself would be regulated for both competition and safety reasons. Also, bobsleigh was not included in the [[1960 Winter Olympics]] in [[Squaw Valley, Placer County, California|Squaw Valley, California]] for cost reasons in track construction. The development of artificially [[refrigeration|refrigerated]] tracks in the late 1960s and early 1970s would greatly enhance speeds. World Cup competitions were first developed in the 1980s while women's competitions took place in the early 1990s. The 2-woman bobsleigh event had their first World Championships in [[Winterberg]], Germany, in 2000 and debuted at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City]].
Because of the growing weight issue at the [[1952 Winter Olympics]], the first changes occurred when weight limits were introduced. Since then, configurations to the tracks and the bobsleigh itself would be regulated for both competition and safety reasons. Also, bobsleigh was not included in the [[1960 Winter Olympics]] in [[Squaw Valley, Placer County, California|Squaw Valley, California]] for cost reasons in track construction. The development of artificially [[refrigeration|refrigerated]] tracks in the late 1960s and early 1970s would greatly enhance speeds. World Cup competitions were first developed in the 1980s while women's competitions took place in the early 1990s. The 2-woman bobsleigh event had their first World Championships in [[Winterberg]], Germany, in 2000 and debuted at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=IBSF {{!}} IBSF History |url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/inside-ibsf/about-ibsf/ibsf-history |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.ibsf.org |language=en-gb |archive-date=2023-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216075309/https://www.ibsf.org/en/inside-ibsf/about-ibsf/ibsf-history |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2016 the IBSF introduced mono-bob as another discipline for youth competitions and as a women's event at the adult level.<ref name=":0" />


==History of skeleton==
==History of Skeleton==
[[File:2020-01-19 1st run Women's Skeleton (2020 Winter Youth Olympics) by Sandro Halank–026.jpg|thumb|Skeleton athlete sliding down a track]]
Skeleton was also founded in Switzerland in 1884 as part of the [[Cresta Run]]. It remained a Swiss competition until 1906 when the first competitions outside Switzerland took place in [[Austria]]. At the 1926 FIBT World Congress in Paris, it was approved that skeleton was an official [[Winter Olympics|Winter Olympic]] sport with competition taking place at the [[1928 Winter Olympics]] in St. Moritz. 13 competitors from five nations took part. Twenty years later, skeleton reappeared on the Olympic program when the [[1948 Winter Olympics]] returned to St. Moritz.
Skeleton was also founded in Switzerland in 1884 as part of the [[Cresta Run]]. It remained a Swiss competition until 1906 when the first competitions outside Switzerland took place in [[Austria]]. At the 1926 FIBT World Congress in Paris, it was approved that skeleton was an official [[Winter Olympics|Winter Olympic]] sport with competition taking place at the [[1928 Winter Olympics]] in St. Moritz. 13 competitors from five nations took part. Twenty years later, skeleton reappeared on the Olympic program when the [[1948 Winter Olympics]] returned to St. Moritz.


Line 51: Line 33:
The first European Championship was held in 1982 at [[Königsee]], [[Germany]], and the first World Championships were also staged in 1982 at St. Moritz. By 1986, the FIBT started funding skeleton and introduced training schools worldwide to grow the sport. The following year, skeleton European Championships were introduced annually. In 1989, skeleton World Championships were introduced, although the women's championships were not formed until 2000 at [[Igls]], Austria. Skeleton was reintroduced in the Winter Olympic program when the IOC allowed competition for the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Games]] in [[Salt Lake City]], US.
The first European Championship was held in 1982 at [[Königsee]], [[Germany]], and the first World Championships were also staged in 1982 at St. Moritz. By 1986, the FIBT started funding skeleton and introduced training schools worldwide to grow the sport. The following year, skeleton European Championships were introduced annually. In 1989, skeleton World Championships were introduced, although the women's championships were not formed until 2000 at [[Igls]], Austria. Skeleton was reintroduced in the Winter Olympic program when the IOC allowed competition for the [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Games]] in [[Salt Lake City]], US.


==IBSF competitions==
==IBSF Competitions and Disciplines==
The IBSF governs competitions on all bobsleigh and skeleton competitions at the European Championships, World Championships, World Cup, and Winter Olympic level.
The IBSF governs competitions on all bobsleigh and skeleton events at the European Cup, North American Cup, World Cup, and Winter Olympic levels.

Men compete in 2-man and 4-man bobsled, while women compete in 2-man and mono-bob. In each discipline there is an athlete that sits up front and controls the bobsled using the rings and ropes the steer the runners. This athlete is referred to as the Pilot or Driver. In 2-man and 4-man, any athlete other than the driver assists in the acceleration of the bobsled at the start and then does not contribute to the steering once they hop in. The rear-most athlete is referred to as the Brakeman and pulls the brakes in the bobsled once the run is complete and the sled has crossed the finish line. In mono-bob, the Driver and the Brakeman are the same person.

In skeleton there is just one athlete that pushes the sled before riding the sled face down through the same track as bobsleds. Similar to bobsled, there are weight minimums and also weight maximums placed on athletes. This weight is the sum of the athlete and their sled.

==IBSF Tracks==
Tracks are located in three continents; Europe, North America, and Asia. Annually, there are three different racing circuits athletes can compete on, with two of them (The North American Cup and the European Cup) being development level, while the World Cup is the top level of competition. Below is a current list of [[List of bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton tracks|IBSF Tracks]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Country
! Track
! Length (m)
! Vertical Drop (m)
! Average Grade (%)
! Maximum Grade (%)
! Number of Curves
! Winter Olympics
! Year Completed
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{AUT}}
| [[Olympic Sliding Centre Innsbruck|Igls]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-11|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/8/Innsbruck|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411160751/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/8/Innsbruck|archive-date=2021-04-11}}</ref>
| 1,228
| 124
| 9.0
| 18.0
| 14
| [[1964 Winter Olympics|1964]], [[1976 Winter Olympics|1976]]
| 1963
|-
| [[Imst]]<ref>{{cite web|title=F.I.L. 2015-2016 Events Schedule, Artificial Track Luge, National Competitions with International Participation|url=http://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/nationale-wettbewerbe-kb.pdf|publisher=FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE LUGE DE COURSE|access-date=2016-01-22|archive-date=2016-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128014124/http://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/nationale-wettbewerbe-kb.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

| 1,000.9
| 124.8
| 12.48
|
|
|
| 1958
|-
| rowspan="1"| {{CAN}}
| [[Whistler Sliding Centre|Whistler]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/24/Whistler|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116122422/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/24/Whistler|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,450
| 148
| 9.0
|20.0
| 16
| [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010]]
| 2007
|-
|{{CHN}}
|[[National Sliding Centre|Yanqing]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-09|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/700012/Yanqing|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209115605/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/700012/Yanqing|archive-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>
|1,975
|121
|6.0
|18.0
|16
|[[2022 Winter Olympics|2022]]
|2020<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-28|title=Pre-homologation test runs at YanQing Olympic Sliding Center successfully finished|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/21838-pre-homologation-test-runs-at-yanqing-olympic-sliding-center-successfully-finished|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628022701/https://www.ibsf.org/en/news/21838-pre-homologation-test-runs-at-yanqing-olympic-sliding-center-successfully-finished|archive-date=2021-06-28}}</ref>
|-
| {{FRA}}
| [[La Plagne bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|La Plagne]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/19/La%20Plagne|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116113300/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/19/La%20Plagne|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,507.5
| 124
| 8.0
|14.0
| 19
| [[1992 Winter Olympics|1992]]
| 1990
|-
| rowspan="4" | {{GER}}
| [[Altenberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Altenberg]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bobbahn-altenberg.de/bobbahn-altenberg/bahninfo.php |title=Rennschlitten- und Bobbahn Altenberg - Bahninfo, Geschichte und Technik |publisher=Bobbahn-altenberg.de |access-date=2014-02-17 |archive-date=2014-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718051250/http://bobbahn-altenberg.de/bobbahn-altenberg/bahninfo.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2/Altenberg|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116110236/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2/Altenberg|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,413
| 122.22
| 8.66
| 15.0
| 17
|
| 1983
|-
| [[Königssee bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Königssee]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/9/K%C3%B6nigssee|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120093112/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/9/K%C3%B6nigssee|archive-date=2021-01-20}}</ref>
| 1,251.2
| 120
|9.0
| 10.35
| 13 / 12
|
| 1968
|-
| [[Oberhof bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Oberhof]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/22/Oberhof|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116112828/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/22/Oberhof|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,069.70
| 96.37
| 9.2
|36.4
| 15
|
| 1971
|-
| [[Winterberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Winterberg]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/1/Winterberg|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116120743/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/1/Winterberg|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,330
| 110
| 9.8
| 15.0
| 14
|
| 1977
|-
| {{JPN}}
| [[Spiral (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton)|Nagano]]
| 1,360
| 113
| 8.64
|
| 14
| [[1998 Winter Olympics|1998]]
| 1997
|-
| {{flagicon|KOR}} [[South Korea|Korea, Rep.]]
| [[Olympic Sliding Centre|Pyeongchang]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-11|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2028/Pyeongchang|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411151815/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2028/Pyeongchang|archive-date=2021-04-11}}</ref>
| 1,376.38
| 116.32
| 9.48
|25.0
| 16
| [[2018 Winter Olympics|2018]]
| 2016
|-
| {{LAT}}
| [[Sigulda bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track|Sigulda]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/14/Sigulda|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116140208/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/14/Sigulda|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,200
| 99
|8.0
| 9.3
| 16
|
| 1986
|-
| {{NOR}}
| [[Lillehammer Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track|Lillehammer]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/20/Lillehammer|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120095623/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/20/Lillehammer|archive-date=2021-01-20}}</ref>
| 1,365
| 114.3
|8.0
| 15.0
| 16
| [[1994 Winter Olympics|1994]]
| 1992
|-
|{{RUS}}
| [[Sliding Center Sanki|Sochi]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2027/Sochi|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116123303/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/2027/Sochi|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,500
| 124
|20.0
| 22.0
| 19
| [[2014 Winter Olympics|2014]]
| 2013
|-
| {{SUI}}
| [[St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun|St. Moritz]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-11|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/15/St.%20Moritz|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411145449/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/15/St.%20Moritz|archive-date=2021-04-11}}</ref>
| 1,722
| 130
| 8.14
| 15.0
| 19
| [[1928 Winter Olympics|1928]], [[1948 Winter Olympics|1948]]
| 1903
|-
| rowspan="2" | {{USA}}
| [[Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run|Lake Placid]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-11|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/10/Lake%20Placid|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411145110/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/10/Lake%20Placid|archive-date=2021-04-11}}</ref>
| 1,455
| 128
| 9.8
|20.0
| 20
| [[1932 Winter Olympics|1932]], [[1980 Winter Olympics|1980]]
| 1930
|-
| [[Utah Olympic Park Track|Park City]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-16|title=IBSF {{!}} Tracks|url=https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/12/Park%20City|access-date=2021-10-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116114903/https://www.ibsf.org/en/tracks/track/12/Park%20City|archive-date=2021-01-16}}</ref>
| 1,335
| 103.9
| 8.1
|15.0
| 15
| [[2002 Winter Olympics|2002]]
| 1997
|}


==Presidents==
==Presidents==
Line 64: Line 231:
==Championships==
==Championships==
* [[IBSF World Championships (bobsleigh and skeleton)|IBSF World Championships]]
* [[IBSF World Championships (bobsleigh and skeleton)|IBSF World Championships]]
* [[IBSF Para Sport World Championship]]
* IBSF Para Sport World Championship
* [[Bobsleigh and Skeleton European Championship|IBSF European Championships]]
* [[Bobsleigh and Skeleton European Championship|IBSF European Championships]]
* [[IBSF Junior World Championships]]
* IBSF Junior World Championships
* [[Bobsleigh World Cup]]
* [[Bobsleigh World Cup]]
* North American Cup
* [[Skeleton World Cup]]
* [[Skeleton World Cup]]
* European Cup
* [[Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics]]
* [[Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics]]
* [[Skeleton at the Winter Olympics]]
* [[Skeleton at the Winter Olympics]]
Line 85: Line 254:
[[Category:Bobsleigh governing bodies]]
[[Category:Bobsleigh governing bodies]]
[[Category:Skeleton governing bodies]]
[[Category:Skeleton governing bodies]]
[[Category:IOC-recognised international federations|Bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations|Bobsleigh]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1923]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1923]]
[[Category:International sports organisations based in Switzerland]]
[[Category:International sports organisations based in Switzerland]]
[[Category:International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation| ]]

Latest revision as of 21:37, 18 December 2024

International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
SportBobsleigh and skeleton
JurisdictionInternational
Founded23 November 1923; 101 years ago (1923-11-23)
HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
PresidentIvo Ferriani (2010–present)
ReplacedFédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT)
Official website
www.ibsf.org

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) is the international sports federation for the sliding sports of Bobsleigh and Skeleton. It was founded on 23 November 1923 by the delegates of Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States at the meeting of their first International Congress in Paris, France. In June 2015, it announced a name change from FIBT to IBSF. The federation's headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland.[1]

The IBSF works closely with the IOC to conduct Winter Olympics every four years. Along with the Winter Olympics, the IBSF hosts World Championships the other three years. The races are hosted on tracks in North America, Europe, and Asia. The tracks are shared with the sport of Luge, although that is managed under a different governing body, the International Luge Federation.

History of Bobsleigh

[edit]
A 4-man bobsled team loading into the sled at the beginning of a race

The world's first bobsleigh club was founded in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1897. By 1904, competitions were taking place on natural ice courses (Olympia Bobrun St. Moritz-Celerina). This growth led to the creation of the FIBT in 1923 with inclusion into the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the following year. Before the IBSF, the organization was originally known by the French name Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT). At the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, the four-man event took place. In 1930, the first FIBT World Championships took place with the four-man event in Caux-sur-Montreux, Switzerland with the first two-man event taking place in Oberhof, Germany the following year. At the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, the two-man competition debuted. In 1935, a forerunner to the International Luge Federation, was absorbed into the FIBT and a "Section de Luge" was created. The luge section would be abolished when the FIL was split off in 1957.[2]

Because of the growing weight issue at the 1952 Winter Olympics, the first changes occurred when weight limits were introduced. Since then, configurations to the tracks and the bobsleigh itself would be regulated for both competition and safety reasons. Also, bobsleigh was not included in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California for cost reasons in track construction. The development of artificially refrigerated tracks in the late 1960s and early 1970s would greatly enhance speeds. World Cup competitions were first developed in the 1980s while women's competitions took place in the early 1990s. The 2-woman bobsleigh event had their first World Championships in Winterberg, Germany, in 2000 and debuted at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.[2] In 2016 the IBSF introduced mono-bob as another discipline for youth competitions and as a women's event at the adult level.[2]

History of Skeleton

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Skeleton athlete sliding down a track

Skeleton was also founded in Switzerland in 1884 as part of the Cresta Run. It remained a Swiss competition until 1906 when the first competitions outside Switzerland took place in Austria. At the 1926 FIBT World Congress in Paris, it was approved that skeleton was an official Winter Olympic sport with competition taking place at the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz. 13 competitors from five nations took part. Twenty years later, skeleton reappeared on the Olympic program when the 1948 Winter Olympics returned to St. Moritz.

At the 1954 IOC meeting in Athens, Greece, skeleton was replaced by luge on the official Olympic program. This caused skeleton to fall into obscurity until the development of a "bobsleigh skeleton" which could be used on any bobsleigh track in 1970. The development of artificial tracks would also help the rebirth of skeleton as a sport.

The first European Championship was held in 1982 at Königsee, Germany, and the first World Championships were also staged in 1982 at St. Moritz. By 1986, the FIBT started funding skeleton and introduced training schools worldwide to grow the sport. The following year, skeleton European Championships were introduced annually. In 1989, skeleton World Championships were introduced, although the women's championships were not formed until 2000 at Igls, Austria. Skeleton was reintroduced in the Winter Olympic program when the IOC allowed competition for the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City, US.

IBSF Competitions and Disciplines

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The IBSF governs competitions on all bobsleigh and skeleton events at the European Cup, North American Cup, World Cup, and Winter Olympic levels.

Men compete in 2-man and 4-man bobsled, while women compete in 2-man and mono-bob. In each discipline there is an athlete that sits up front and controls the bobsled using the rings and ropes the steer the runners. This athlete is referred to as the Pilot or Driver. In 2-man and 4-man, any athlete other than the driver assists in the acceleration of the bobsled at the start and then does not contribute to the steering once they hop in. The rear-most athlete is referred to as the Brakeman and pulls the brakes in the bobsled once the run is complete and the sled has crossed the finish line. In mono-bob, the Driver and the Brakeman are the same person.

In skeleton there is just one athlete that pushes the sled before riding the sled face down through the same track as bobsleds. Similar to bobsled, there are weight minimums and also weight maximums placed on athletes. This weight is the sum of the athlete and their sled.

IBSF Tracks

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Tracks are located in three continents; Europe, North America, and Asia. Annually, there are three different racing circuits athletes can compete on, with two of them (The North American Cup and the European Cup) being development level, while the World Cup is the top level of competition. Below is a current list of IBSF Tracks:

Country Track Length (m) Vertical Drop (m) Average Grade (%) Maximum Grade (%) Number of Curves Winter Olympics Year Completed
 Austria Igls[3] 1,228 124 9.0 18.0 14 1964, 1976 1963
Imst[4] 1,000.9 124.8 12.48 1958
 Canada Whistler[5] 1,450 148 9.0 20.0 16 2010 2007
 China Yanqing[6] 1,975 121 6.0 18.0 16 2022 2020[7]
 France La Plagne[8] 1,507.5 124 8.0 14.0 19 1992 1990
 Germany Altenberg[9][10] 1,413 122.22 8.66 15.0 17 1983
Königssee[11] 1,251.2 120 9.0 10.35 13 / 12 1968
Oberhof[12] 1,069.70 96.37 9.2 36.4 15 1971
Winterberg[13] 1,330 110 9.8 15.0 14 1977
 Japan Nagano 1,360 113 8.64 14 1998 1997
South Korea Korea, Rep. Pyeongchang[14] 1,376.38 116.32 9.48 25.0 16 2018 2016
 Latvia Sigulda[15] 1,200 99 8.0 9.3 16 1986
 Norway Lillehammer[16] 1,365 114.3 8.0 15.0 16 1994 1992
 Russia Sochi[17] 1,500 124 20.0 22.0 19 2014 2013
 Switzerland St. Moritz[18] 1,722 130 8.14 15.0 19 1928, 1948 1903
 United States Lake Placid[19] 1,455 128 9.8 20.0 20 1932, 1980 1930
Park City[20] 1,335 103.9 8.1 15.0 15 2002 1997

Presidents

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The following persons have served as president of IBSF:

Championships

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References

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  1. ^ "Organization". IBSF.org. International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14.
  2. ^ a b c "IBSF | IBSF History". www.ibsf.org. Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  3. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  4. ^ "F.I.L. 2015-2016 Events Schedule, Artificial Track Luge, National Competitions with International Participation" (PDF). FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE LUGE DE COURSE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  5. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  6. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-02-09. Archived from the original on 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  7. ^ "Pre-homologation test runs at YanQing Olympic Sliding Center successfully finished". 2021-06-28. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  8. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  9. ^ "Rennschlitten- und Bobbahn Altenberg - Bahninfo, Geschichte und Technik". Bobbahn-altenberg.de. Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  10. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  11. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-20. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  12. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  13. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  14. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  15. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  16. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-20. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  17. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  18. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  19. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-04-11. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  20. ^ "IBSF | Tracks". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
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