100,000 Spectators Watch Three Slaloms Amid Austria’s Magical Winter Scenery

After several days of heavy snow, the two slaloms took place as scheduled in Kitzbühel in front of 60,000 spectators. The event took place in a fabulous atmosphere, the fans, organising team, and experienced volunteers showing once again why the Austrian World Cup Events are so loved by sportsmen and women from all over the world. The organisation ran flawlessly thanks to the organising committee’s years of experience, and the fans’ enthusiasm and knowledge were unsurpassable. As ever, thrilling contests were fought out against the magical backdrop on the finishing stretch of the famous ‘Streif’ downhill race course.

Franz Klammer, downhill Olympic gold medallist in 1976, four of whose 25 World Cup victories took place in Kitzbühel (1975, 1976, 1977, 1984), also enjoyed the sensational atmosphere last weekend. He attended in his new capacity as Chairman International of the Salzburg 2014 Winter Olympic Bid, and declared: “I am very impressed by what the organisers achieve here year after year. The fans make their own unique contribution and support the participants splendidly, so that the sportsmen and women can achieve or even surpass their best performances. It is always fantastic to be here for these races. In addition, I used the opportunity to inform attending representatives of the media and the international sporting scene about the Salzburg 2014 bid concept first hand".

The Schladming 'Nightrace' proved yet again the lasting appeal of what is the top single event in Alpine winter sport with its 50,000 spectators. The stands lining the course overflowed with excitement, with the beauty of the floodlit winter scenery creating a unique atmosphere, and the night slalom was again a huge success, as it has been for the last ten years.

Rudolf Höller, the Executive Director of Salzburg 2014: “We are of course delighted that all top winter sport events in Salzburg and Austria have gone so splendidly this year again. And the fact that more than 100,000 fans were in attendance highlights the strong profile of winter sport in Austria and the bordering countries. Full stadia, thrilling contests, a dream landscape and flawless organisation: This is what Salzburg and Austria are offering the Olympic Movement. It is an excellent example of legacy, because such positive and professionally organised events have been shaping international public opinion about Austria for decades.”