GUATEMALA: WINTER OLYMPICS - The Austrian Delegation makes last presentation ahead of the International Olympic Committee's vote for the 2014 Olympic Games host

Record ID: 277556

  • Title: GUATEMALA: WINTER OLYMPICS - The Austrian Delegation makes last presentation ahead of the International Olympic Committee's vote for the 2014 Olympic Games host
  • Date: 5th July 2007
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JULY 4, 2007) (REUTERS) AUSTRIAN SUPPORTERS WITH BANNERS BANNER FEATURING OLYMPIC RINGS AND SALZBURG
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACN7O3XCWMIMPTWNSQNGCYLXPM
  • Story Text: Salzburg stressed its long experience in staging world-class events and the great passion of Austrians for winter sports as it presented its bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games on Wednesday (July 4).
    Austria's greatest athlete Franz Klammer told the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that a crowd of more than 100,000, the highest in Winter Olympic history, had cheered him to an Alpine skiing downhill gold medal at Innsbruck in 1976.
    Salzburg faces opposition from Sochi of Russia and South Korea's Pyeongchang. The IOC decision on the 2014 host will be announced shortly after 2300 GMT after a vote by its members.
    The Austrian Chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, said that Austria would stop at nothing to root out dope cheats.
    "Let me leave you in no doubt that we stand at your side in the fight against drugs and sports and we will continue to route out this cancer and we will support IOC one hundred percent," said Gusenbauer.
    Salzburg, badly beaten four years ago when Vancouver won the right to stage the 2010 Winter Games narrowly ahead of Pyeongchang, surprised the IOC by using the music "We Will Rock You" as a theme.
    Four years ago, Salzburg had opted for a "Sound of Music" theme and the city's association with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
    Schaden emphasized that Salzburg had eight of its 11 venues already built and that it had vast experience in staging world championships in many sports, making it a safe option for the IOC.
    "We offer Salzburg, no risk , all return and the boost to the Olympic movement," said Salzburg Mayor, Heinz Schaden.
    Gusenbauer said that the Austrian bid would attract a young generation, something the IOC said they were looking for.
    "At least I have the feeling when sitting there in the room that many of the members were really fascinated, were really taken by the message, that we will be able to reconnect the Olympic idea with the new generations," said Gusenbauer.
    Salzburg Mayor, Heinz Schaden, reaffirmed the comment made by Gusenbauer.
    "During the presentation as I did rock the road that would certainly draw TV audiences to the screens, will bring back to the youth to the games, will increase revenues for the IOC but frankly you will see a new level of Winter Games in Salzburg," said Schaden.
    Prime minister Alfred Gusenbauer addressed the delicate issue of doping, following the scandal at last year's Turin Winter Games that led to several Austrian athletes and officials being suspended for life from the Olympics.
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