Seven titles were awarded at this year's Championships in Königssee in Germany for the first time thanks to the addition of sprint races, and they will now remain on the schedule for all upcoming editions.

The FIL rubber-stamped the decision at its ongoing Congress in Lake Placid in the United States.

It means that men's, women's and doubles sprint events will all be held alongside the regular luge events in the three disciplines, and the team relay.

Sprint luge sees winners decided after just one run on a shortened track, with competitors beginning their runs under "flying start rules".

This means lugers only have four seconds to react to the gates opening as opposed to normal preparation time of 30 seconds. 

At present sprint events do not feature on the Winter Olympic schedule but this is something that could one day change.

German Felix Loch, a triple Olympic champion, won this year's men's sprint title in Königssee after also winning the singles crown.

The women's sprint winner was Swiss slider Martina Kocher, who came home ahead of Germany's Natalie Geisenberger.

This was a role reversal of the women's singles, which saw Geisenberger claim gold and Kocher the silver.

Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt won the doubles sprint title for Germany, and also captured the regular title.

Sprint events are also held during the FIL World Cup season.