With a large number of prominent figures from the worlds of sports, politics, and business, as well as extensive media coverage, the Austria House of the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) was officially opened in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Since the 2012 London Olympics, Tyrol has consistently been a top partner in the legendary red-white-red "sports embassy." The opening of the Austria House in Cortina was also marked by Tyrolean Olympic memories, including reminiscences from "Ski Emperor" Franz Klammer, who won his gold medal 50 years ago on the Patscherkofel mountain in Innsbruck.
Franz Klammer had just celebrated his legendary 1976 Olympic gold medal in Innsbruck when he joined many other Austrian sporting greats on the stage of the Austria House, which opened on Friday. He captivated the numerous prominent guests at the opening with personal anecdotes. "That was the most important victory I've ever celebrated in my life, and it changed my life completely. The Olympic Games always have a special appeal, especially because the athletes represent their nation. People are proud of their Austrian athletes, and I believe that's what the Olympics thrive on," said Klammer, thus building a bridge from generation to generation and from Innsbruck to Cortina.
Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) President Horst Nussbaumer also received much applause for the perfect preparation: „At the Austria House, we are pooling our strengths to create an atmosphere that conveys support and enthusiasm to both our athletes and our guests. Tyrol, alongside the Austrian National Tourist Office, is one of our most important tourism partners, because here the sporting passion of our region is combined with professional hospitality at the highest level.“ ÖOC Secretary General Florian Gosch also emphasized their gratitude for strong partnerships: „Together, we have created a place that moves and touches people.“
Tyrol stands for internationally successful sporting events, which are enormously important for both the region's image and economic impact, emphasized Karin Seiler, Managing Director of Tirol Werbung, in Cortina. "We demonstrate our strength as a leading Alpine sports destination with those events that will continue to position Tyrol successfully in the future – such as the 2027 Luge World Championships in Innsbruck or the 2028 Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen. From February 13th to 15th, the Austria House will be transformed into the Austria Tirol House. As the Lebensraum Tirol Group – comprising Tirol Werbung, Standortagentur Tirol, and Agrarmarketing Tirol – we will present ourselves, together with leading tourism regions and successful businesses, as a modern European region in the heart of the Alps."„
Many prominent guests were enthusiastic about the opening evening at the Austria House in Cortina, including: Austria's Vice Chancellor and Minister of Sport Andreas Babler, Minister of Economic Affairs and Tourism Wolfgang Hattmanndorfer ("An Austria House would be unthinkable without Tyrol"), State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner, ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober, the Tyrolean double Olympic champion and ORF expert Andreas Linger, as well as numerous Olympic sports legends such as Matthias Mayer, Michaela Dorfmeister, Alexandra Meissnitzer, Thomas Morgenstern, Felix Gottwald and Patrick Ortlieb.