TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 align=right border=0>TBODY>TR>TD>TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 border=0>TBODY>TR>TD colSpan=2>IMG src="/articles/images/SchadenOutofBob_article.jpg">/TD>/TR>TR>TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px">SPAN class=caption>B>Mayor Heinz Schaden climbs from the sled after his run down the track at Koenigssee. (ATR)/B>/SPAN>/TD>TD width=12> /TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>/TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>(ATR) Salzburg Mayor Heinz Schaden hurtled down a bobsleigh track Thursday to launch the venue tour of the IOC team examining the Austrian bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics. And judging by a comment from a member of the IOC team to Around the Rings, Salzburg would do well to offer a surprise or two, like Mayor in a bob. BR>BR>Schaden rode in a four-man sled down the world-famous track at Koenigsee, Germany. While across the border in Bavaria, the track is easily reached from downtown Salzburg in 30 minutes, less from the proposed Olympic Village. BR>BR>The track was the first stop in the commission’s day-long trek to the mountain venues a short distance south of Salzburg. BR>BR>About 1,000 school children packed the grandstands at the bob track, for the first time bringing some noisy local enthusiasm to the Salzburg IOC visit. It must have been a treat for the IOC delegation to see some spontaneity: a member of team tells Around the Rings that Salzburg has been “predictable”. BR>BR>Whether that terse comment is good or bad for Salzburg, by the end of Thursday the IOC commission will have seen more existing venues for Olympic events than they have seen both in Sochi and PyeongChang, confirming the “we are ready” mantra of the bid team. BR>BR>From Koenigsee, the commission stopped briefly south of Salzburg at the site for main ice hockey arena, which would become home for Salzburg’s Red Bull hockey team. The venue is located on the rail line, which the commission used to travel on to the mountain venues of Zauchensee, Bischofshofen, Radtsadt and Flachauwinkl. BR>BR>With blue sky above, the commission will has had picture-perfect weather for their outing. The return from Flachau late in the afternoon, the farthest venue from Salzburg, is scheduled to take 45 minutes to reach the IOC commission hotel. BR>BR>The IOC group has a working dinner Thursday night, where notes on the day are compiled. By the time the commission leaves Salzburg on March 18, its report on the Austrian bid will be well on its way to completion. BR>TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 align=left border=0>TBODY>TR>TD>TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 border=0>TBODY>TR>TD colSpan=2>IMG src="/articles/images/Sbahn_article.jpg">/TD>/TR>TR>TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px">SPAN class=caption>B>The IOC commission took one of Salzburg’s smooth riding S-bahn trains for part of their venue tour. (ATR)/B>/SPAN>/TD>TD width=12> /TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>/TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>BR>On Friday, the commission will spend the morning in briefings with leaders of the Austrian government who will remain for the official dinner that night. Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer and President Heinz Fischer will both be attending. On Friday afternoon, the commission will visit venue sites in the city of Salzburg. BR>BR>STRONG>Salzburg Notepad /STRONG>BR>BR>After some high-tech venue presentations in Sochi and PyeongChang, Salzburg is moving in another direction for the IOC visit, ice-tech: an ice sculpture was used in the IOC presentation to represent the proposed main ice hockey arena at Puch… BR>BR>STRONG>Not well-dressed:/STRONG> a frequent comment from media visitors this we TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 align=right border=0>TBODY>TR>TD>TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 border=0>TBODY>TR>TD colSpan=2>IMG src="/articles/images/IceSculpture_article.jpg">/TD>/TR>TR>TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; PADDING-TOP: 5px">SPAN class=caption>B>Ice-tech: the proposed main venue for hockey is rendered in ice. (ATR)/B>/SPAN>/TD>TD width=12> /TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>/TD>/TR>/TBODY>/TABLE>ek is Salzburg’s lack of an Olympics look. Banners are up at venues and at few spots in town, but the imagery is spread thinly compared to rivals PyeongChang and Sochi… BR>BR>STRONG>On hand for the IOC visit to the bob and luge track:/STRONG> International Luge Federation President Josef Fendt and one of the immortals of the sport, George Hackl. FIL is headquartered minutes away in Berchtesgaden… BR>BR>STRONG>Fewest hired guns:/STRONG> it’s a do-it-yourself campaign for the Austrians, who, like the Korean bid, have a scant supply of outside advisers. Along with Mike Lee from London, Atlantans George Hirthler and Rick Ludwig are in Salzburg this week aiding the bid leadership… BR>BR>STRONG>Sochi on TV:/STRONG> In the continuation of what must be a multi-million dollar media buy, TV spots for Sochi 2014 that promise “real snow” are running on CNN and BBC timed for the hours right before the IOC commission begins its work for the day. A Sochi 2014 official tells Around the Rings the “intensity” of the rotation will vary, but the ads will run all the way through the IOC vote on July 4… BR>BR>STRONG>Salzburg Swag:/STRONG> Journalists covering the Salzburg IOC visit are being given a blue backpack, a small Sacher torte and a small vessel of salt, Salzburg’s namesake… BR>BR>STRONG>Your on-the-scene source of news about the race for the 2014 Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only. /STRONG>
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