Bergisel, Innsbruck

Fondest memory: During the skijumping qualification VT member "nykaenen" smuggled me into the press area of the stadium. It was a perfect chance to take pictures of all our favourite jumpers, I took a whole film of pictures, 10 at least of my favourite, Janne Ahonen from Finland.

It was very exciting to see all the jumpers and to listen to them being interviewed. And it was very funny, too because the girls and I just couldn't behave like press people should ;)

Thanks Nykaenen for the chance of a lifetime!!!!! :-) See my travelogues for many more pictures. I have even more pics but unfortunately I was running out of travelogues :-(

Favorite thing: Innsbruck hosted Winter Olympics twice, in 1964 & 1976.
In 1964 the organizers had serious problems because of the lack of snow. So serious were their problems that they had to turn to the Austrian Army for help. i haven't come across the exact number of soldiers employed, but must have been almost the entire Army since their task was to bring 20.000 blocks of ice for the luge & bobsleigh tracks + 40.000 m3 of snow for the Alpine skiing slopes. As if shortage of snow hadn't been nerve-breaking enough, ten days before the Opening Ceremony, rain came in. Again, the Army was employed and the Games took place.

Twelve years later, in 1976, Innsbruck hosted Winter Olympics again. Originally, the host city was supposed to be Denver, but people of Colorado didn't want to support the Games with their tax money. Innsbruck was asked to step in and the Austrians proved not to be penny-pinchers like the Americans.

The twin Olympic Couldrons that you see at my photo were errected at Bergisel ski jump stadium for the 1976 Games. Carved in are names of medal winners at both Games.

Favorite thing: OLYMPIC STADIUM & learn a little about the Olympic Games.

Symbols of Olympic Games:
Olympic Rings - blue, red, green, yellow & black interlacing rings on a white background, representing the union of 5 continents. Colors chosen based on the fact that at least one of these colors is found in the flag of every nation.
Olympic Flag - Length 3 m, Width 2 m. Motto -'Citius, Altius, Fortius,' meaning 'Faster, Higher, Stronger.'
Olympic Flame - First torch relay of the Olympic Winter Games at 1952 Oslo Games. Youngest person to light the flame is Robin Perry (a 12-year old) at the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games.

Favorite thing: Olympia Ski Jump

As you probably know Innsbruck was a guest town to the Olympic Games, somewhere in the seventies. The Olympic Ski Jump was held in Bergisel a small village south of Innsbruck.

Fondest memory: The views of Innsbruck standing on the Ski Jump Mountain is simply great. If you get up as high as possible, you have to respect the Ski Jumpers.

Favorite thing: ****sorry, it will come soon****

Fondest memory: I terribly miss this hill!! It's amazing how easily someone can get addicted to beautiful things....
Zaha Hadid really did a great job!!

Favorite thing: Olympic Ski Jump.
Stadium for 60,000 spectators.

Favorite thing: a trip up the bergisel is worthwhile, if not for the olympic history then for the great views out over innsbruck itself.