From a small core of alpine nations who built bobsleighing as a sport, it has expanded into a truly international winter sport, with teams from countries as diverse as Jamaica, Japan, Monaco, Russia, Australia and New Zealand joining the traditional bobsleigh powers.  

Its sister sport, skeleton, is the world's first sliding sport - the only one where riders go face down the ice. After a 54-year break, it returned to the Olympic Games in 2002. Today skeleton is practiced on a competitive level by some 30 countries from six continents. 

Bob and skeleton are synonymous with speed and exhilaration. As a result, they have become a highlight of the winter sports calendar, with two big competitions:

The FIBT World Cup for 2006/2007 will consist of nine events in seven countries. Most events are combined competitions featuring all disciplines (Bobsleigh Women 2 seater and Men 2 seater and 4 seater as well as Skeleton Women and Men) during a three to four-day event at the same track. 

The FIBT World Championships are held annually, except during Olympic years. The 2007 event is in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the birthplace of bob and skeleton, with its famous twin runs – the Cresta and the Olympia Bob Run from St Moritz to Celerina. The 2008 FIBT World Championships will be staged in Altenberg, Germany, probably the most challenging track in the world.  

For more information on Bobsleigh & Skeleton, see under Media Rights