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 Federal Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer’s concise inaugural address not only highlighted the importance of the media in sport, but also reaffirmed the fact that the Salzburg bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is a national concern. In the presence of the President of the International Skating Union (ISU) and IOC member Ottavio Cinquanta, and the President of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and IOC member Gian-Franco Kasper, Salzburg 2014 outlined the strengths of its concept regarding media operations, transport, accommodation and Salzburg’s experience in staging world cup events and world championships at world-class level. All these are crucial parameters for journalists. They guarantee that accredited media representatives at the 2014 Winter Games in Salzburg would have the best possible working conditions. The unique atmospheres guaranteed inside and outside the stadiums allow journalists to convey thrilling moments to their readers, listeners and viewers at home, as well as reporting the facts. The presentation team consisted of President and Chairman of Salzburg 2014, Mayor Heinz Schaden, Salzburg Ambassador and world champion snowboarder, Manuela Riegler, as well as Salzburg 2014 Director Gernot Leitner. It was Manuela Riegler’s first official presentation for Salzburg 2014, but the audience recognised that Manuela, as an active athlete from the Salzburg Olympic Region, knew her subject inside out, in particular when presenting Flachau, her place of birth and the planned venue for her discipline, snowboarding. Flachau is a fine example of the compactness, atmosphere and experience in staging winter sport events demonstrated by the Salzburg bid: Manuela Riegler: "In Flachau — as in most of our planned venues — you can walk from the slopes to the town in just 5 minutes. Spectators stay in our alpine villages before and after the competitions to enjoy a meal, a drink, and to celebrate winter sports. These spectators are part of a 100-year tradition of winter sport hospitality – you won’t find this anywhere else in the world." President and Chairman of Salzburg 2014 Heinz Schaden: “The media is an immensely important factor in the Olympic Games. Without it there would be absolutely no large sporting events nowadays. Its role is to convey not only the results, but also the images, stories and emotions. Austria can look back on 158 years of freedom of press and opinion, which is legally guaranteed. This is probably the most important basis for the excellent working conditions enjoyed by journalists. But the legal situation is not the only reason for these excellent journalistic conditions. The short distances, Austria’s experience in organising world-class winter sport events, the latest technology in the press and media areas, and the atmospheres inside and outside the stadiums also contribute significantly. To report on four weeks of Olympic Games is hard work. Should we be awarded the honour of staging the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salzburg, then we would do everything in our power to make journalists’ work as simple and their stay as comfortable as possible. We look forward to extending the proverbial Austrian hospitality to the representatives of the media." |
