Opening celebration of the first Winter Youth Olympic Games
Innsbruck (pps) Austria’s President Heinz Fischer opened the first Winter Youth Olympic Games at Innsbruck’s Bergisel Stadium on the evening of Friday, January 13. After Tyrol’s capital had successfully hosted Olympic Winter Games in 1964 and 1976, he led the Olympic movement into a new era.
Together with approximately 20,000 spectators, more than 1,000 athletes celebrated an impressive party at Bergisel, featuring a lot of music. The flames were lit by Men’s downhill Olympic champions Egon Zimmermann (1964) and Franz Klammer (1976). The cauldron for the Youth Games was lit by by Paul Gerstgraser (AUT), who is representing Austria in Nordic Combined. The Olympic Oath was taken by Austrian Alpine Ski Racer Christina Anger.
«Tonight, I can say with great pleasure, Innsbruck, you have done it again." said IOC President Jacques Rogge, adding that it was «altogether fitting» that this new tradition was beginning in Innsbruck.
Protagonists of this colorful ceremony included lugers Doris Neuner, 1992 Olympic Champion, her sister Angelika (silver in 1992) and Josef Feistmantl, Gold medalist in doubles in 1964 together with his then partner Manfred Stengl. Also part of the ceremony were numerous Austrian winter sports legends including Leonhard Stock, Patrick Ortlieb, Toni Innauer, Karl Schnabl, Karl Schranz, Gitti Habersatter-Totschnig and Edith Zimmermann-Rhomberg.
Until January 22, 63 Gold medals will be awarded in Innsbruck, Seefeld and Kühtai. 1059 athletes from 70 nations will participate. More than 900 media representatives will report from the competitions. 70 countries have acquired broadcasting rights for the Winter Games.
