Walter Pfaller is the head of the sports department of the State of Salzburg, and competed in seven Paralympic Summer Games, winning a gold medal in the 1988 Games in Seoul. He and a number of Austrian athletes are in Manchester representing Salzburg 2014. He welcomed the organisation of the Paralympic World Cup: “The VISA Paralympic World Cup, which has now been organised in Manchester for the third year in succession, plays an important role in the competitive calendar of the top Paralympic athletes. It is a high-class international competition and provides the perfect preparation for the Paralympic Games.“

Pfaller, as a Paralympics expert, is convinced by the concept behind the Salzburg bid for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:

“Should the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games be awarded to Salzburg on July 4, I guarantee that the competitors at the Paralympic Winter Games will enjoy the same excellent conditions as the athletes in the Olympic Winter Games. The same venues will be used, and the athletes will also be accommodated in the Olympic Village. Furthermore, the athletes will also benefit from the compact traffic concept and excellent infrastructure in the Salzburg Olympic region. In every aspect they will experience a fantastic games full of atmosphere, enthusiasm and thrilling moments.”

Austria lives for winter sport, and also for disabled sport: in 1984 and 1988 Austria hosted the World Winter Games for the Disabled, a competition that later became the Paralympic Winter Games. In 1991, the first Disabled World Cup in alpine skiing was staged; an event that set the highest standards in the future organisation of skiing competitions for disabled athletes.

Winter sport fans are also passionate about disabled sport: 35,000 spectators cheered on the competitors at the 2004 Disabled Alpine Skiing World Championships in Wildschoenau. In total, Austrian athletes have won 315 medals at Paralympic Winter Games; Austria has over 100 disabled sport clubs with more than 6500 members, who can fall back on a large number of qualified volunteer helpers and a huge fan base.
In view of Salzburg possibly hosting the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Austrian National Paralympic Committee (OEPC) is organising an international Paralympic youth camp in summer 2007 – an important contribution to the further development of the Olympic movement.

The topic of disabled sport is also part of the curriculum in Austrian schools. This gives young children a greater understanding of disability in general, but with particular reference to the sporting challenges facing disabled athletes.

Rudolf Hoeller, Executive Director of Salzburg 2014, is convinced by the long-term effects of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games being held in Salzburg: “Were the Paralympic Games to be held in Salzburg, then awareness of the excellent results and performances of the disabled athletes would increase in Austria, and around the world. As a result of the Winter Games, particular educational attention will be paid to disabled sport. We also expect that the youth camp will inspire, motivate and train a new generation of Paralympic athletes. By increasing the profile of disabled sport, Austria is continuing to lead the way in this field. The most important thing, however, is that not only the sporting achievements of the athletes are honoured, but that the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2014 in Salzburg ensure that we respect the everyday needs of disabled persons and see them as a given.“