According to a Salzburg 2014 media release Salzburg 2014 used the IOC 2010 Evaluation Commission Report as the blueprint for its new plan for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Salzburg Mayor Heinz Schaden said, as he introduced the process by which the questionnaire was developed, “it’s a tremendous benefit to be mounting our second consecutive winter bid. The starting point for our planning was very clear. The IOC provided us with more than a dozen recommendations for how to improve our plan and we acted on every one of them”.
Heinz Jungwirth, Secretary General of the Austrian Olympic Committee said, “we’ve made a quantum leap in five major areas – government support, athlete experience, compactness and transport, use of existing venues and sports-driven bid leadership”. He said “we believe it’s the most compact Winter Games plan presented to the IOC in the last three decades. We’re offering one Olympic Village for all athletes and one Medal Plaza, creating a sense of Olympic Family unit that’s sometimes missing in the Winter Games”
According to the media release the number of venues has been reduced from 15 to 11 under the new plan reducing operational and logistical loads; 73 per cent of the venues in the new plan exist and host major winter events; 91 per cent of the venues are accessible by Autobahn and/or rail; and capital costs for the plan are “modest” since Salzburg has realized major infrastructure projects based upon a master plan over the past ten years. The plan shows that only three new venues (two permanent, one temporary) have to be built allowing more spending on athlete and Olympic Family experience.
Meanwhile, Salzburg 2014 says the 2005/2006 winter sports season has produced “record” turnouts at multiple events at venues within a 50-mile radius of Salzburg. The record turnout has thrilled Salzburg 2014 bid leaders. Toni Schutti, CEO of Salzburg 2014 said, “Austria’s passion for winter sport is a major advantage for our bid. We hope to tap into that passion to help inspire our quest to bring the Winter Games to our country”.
