The German, elected for a fifth-term as head in June 2014, acknowledged criticism of rising prices with the issue set to be discussed in Lake Placid on Friday and Saturday (June 17 and 18).

“Luge itself has the status of a core sport in the Olympic programme and I do not currently see any specific threat of losing this status,” Fendt said.

“On the other hand, there is criticism relating to the increasing cost of ice tracks.

"We are already working closely with the International Olympic Committee to counteract this issue.”

Fendt, winner of the World Championship twice and the Olympic silver medal in Innsbruck in 1972 during his luge career, was speaking after testing at the under-construction track for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games hit a snag in March.

Problems with the refrigeration system at the Alpensia Sliding Centre meant that only the lower part of the South Korean track could be tested as homologation of the course began. 

This has also concerned the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), which will co-use the track for its events in Pyeongchang.

A Luge World Cup test event is due to be held at Alpensia in February, although the IBSF made encouraging noises at their Congress in London on Sunday (June 12) with President Ivo Ferriani claiming members were happy with the progress being made.

Preparations for Pyeongchang 2018 will also be on the agenda at the Congress, with the FIL also in close contact with organisers of the next Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022.

Other matters of business in Lake Placid - a two-time Winter Olympic host and also the home of USA Luge - include the awarding of the 2020 World Championships and the 2018 Congress.

A raft of motions relating to statutes and regulations will be made, with focus placed on the organisation's Ethics Code.