Salzburg 2014

“Salzburg is ready” – Proof of the Promise - #1 Security, Olympic Champion convinced about highest level of security at Olympic Winter Games in Salzburg 2014

23.05.07

Fritz Strobl, Olympic Champion from Salt Lake City 2002 and runner-up at the Alpine World Championships in Are 2007 in the men´s downhill event, retired after a long and successful career as a skier. Now working as a policeman in Salzburg, his view that the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salzburg will deliver a safe and secure environment can be considered totally reliable.

In recent studies carried out by the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, Austria has always ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. This is also demonstrated by the fact that international organizations such as the United Nations, OPEC, the Organization for Security in Europe (OSCE), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as 20 other international organizations and Non-governmental organizations have chosen Austria to establish their headquarters.

If Salzburg has the honour of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2014, there would be one single line of command securing the Games at the highest level. The Ministry of the Interior is the highest security authority in the country, and it would co-ordinate all security initiatives on a national level through the Office of Olympic Security in the Ministry of the Interior.

Under the provisions of Austria's Olympic Empowerment Act, the Federal Government not only confirms its support of the bid but also assumes full legal and financial responsibility for all security provisions.

In December 2005, a Police Cooperation Treaty was signed by Austria and Germany giving the Austrian Police Forces the ability to operate in Germany and vice versa on request of the respective country.

The close collaboration between these forces has been tested and proven effective on numerous events, most recently at the World Economic Forum in 2002 in Salzburg and at the FIFA World Cup 2006. It will also be operational during the 2008 UEFA Soccer European Championships hosted in Switzerland and Austria.

In Austria, the risks of fire, intrusion, civil disobedience, crime, accident or natural catastrophe in relation to sporting events are, both historically and statistically, very low. Regarding crime in particular, statistics show that the rate is decreasing further from what were already extremely low levels. There is currently no perceived risk of terrorism in the Olympic region.

As far as emergency provision is concerned in the province of Salzburg, there are over 10,600 active fire brigade members and emergency rescue workers, with 700 emergency vehicles available. A total of 701 medical and 162 fire service personnel will be deployed directly at the competition and non-competition venues during the Games.

Fritz Strobl, police officer and Olympic Downhill Champion: “For me personally, it is great to live in a country which is said to be one of the most secure countries in the world. But it is not just a great place to live, but also an easy city to work in as a police officer. If Salzburg were to be awarded the Games on July 4, I will be part of the security team that will do its utmost to ensure the Games take place in a secure environment. From the athletes' point of view, it is crucial that they enjoy the safest possible Games, with minimal infringements on their personal freedom. As a former athlete myself I know how important it is to feel safe, but also to have a peaceful, calm, and easy stay at Olympic Games.”