Parkhotel Matrei

"Olympic Innsbruck "

by Nykaenen

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.