Salzburg 2014 says the environment is a “highly important aspect” in the concept of Salzburg’s bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Games present a “great opportunity” for Salzburg to push the innovation of energy technology to new levels, creating an event that has low-emission benchmarks in energy production, achieves high levels of energy conservation and relies on sustainable transport systems.
A Salzburg 2014 media release states that, “being one of the world’s leading nations in protecting nature and developing solutions for renewable energy sources, waste policy, ecological food and biomass systems, Austria is one of Europe’s top nations in the use of renewable energy. More than 80 per cent of Salzburg’s electricity is delivered from renewable sources, mostly by hydropower, wind and biomass”.
Biomass heating systems are in operation in 74 municipalities, representing 20 per cent of all households in Salzburg, and Salzburg 2014 says should it host the 2014 Winter Games, biomass heating would be used to ensure the “highest standards of energy efficiency at all Games venues”.
Should Salzburg win the bid a “Sustainable Olympiad” would begin in 2010 and Salzburg 2014 said it would invite the global community to participate in a “best practices exchange about sustainable development in alpine areas, an annual event that would make the Olympic Movement one of the driving forces for sustainable alpine development”.
During the Games 75 per cent of spectators and the general public will travel to events on sustainable mass transit systems powered by renewable sources of electricity. Salzburg’s key Olympic environmental goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent during Games time.
Heinz Schaden, Mayor Salzburg and President of Salzburg 2014 said, “sustainability and conservation is a way of life for us. Salzburg 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are planned and organized with emphasis on building key relationships and strategies in order to fulfil our promise and to make further progress in our environmental quest.
“With over ten thousand media representatives in the region for the Winter Games the environmental agenda would be communicated to a world audience enhancing the third pillar of the Olympic Movement – the environment – greatly. I can assure that Salzburg will deliver on the environmental agenda should Salzburg have the honour to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2014”.
Meanwhile Schaden released a statement Tuesday regarding the banning of 14 officials from the Austrian Ski Federation and the resignation of Austrian Ski Federation President Peter Schroecksnadel from the Austrian Olympic Committee board (AOC).
He said, “the IOC had called for a definitive statement of leadership against doping from the AOC and today Leo Wallner (AOC president) and the board delivered. Until the decisive action of the board this morning, there were questions in the minds of many about how the IOC’s mandate for change would impact our bid. Today the Austrian Olympic Committee has cleared the path for our campaign and eliminated any question about Austria’s anti-doping commitment.
“Today all Austrians should be proud of their National Olympic Committee because today, with their decision, Leo Wallner and his colleagues have put the future of sport in Austria back on the track to excellence.
“We expect a positive report from the IOC Evaluation Committee on June 4th and we will continue, as planned, to work intensively in the last four weeks prior to the decision on July 4th in Guatemala City”.
