Groundbreaking ceremony in Tschagguns
TSCHAGGUNS (Vorarlberg)/Raschau, March 8, 2013 – The European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, which will be held from 24.
TSCHAGGUNS (Vorarlberg)/Raschau, March 8, 2013 – The European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, taking place from 24 to 31 January 2015 in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein, already casts its shadow ahead! Today, Friday, March 8, representatives from politics, sports and business attended the groundbreaking ceremony right where the ski jumping hills will be located.
It is a historic site, as various speakers stressed: for here stood the Zelfenschanze in Tschagguns. But that was once, and currently there are only natural ski jumps in Vorarlberg, which require substantial preparation.
The joy of state councillors Dr. Bernadette Mennel and Dipl-Vw. Andrea Kaufmann as well as Harald Haim, junior coach in the Austrian Ski Federation and trainer in Stams, or Patrick Ortlieb, downhill Olympic champion 1992 and president of the Vorarlberg State Ski Association, is thus easy to follow – after all, Vorarlberg is now home to one of Austria's most modern Nordic ski jumping centers. "Not only will the take-off tracks be laid, making summer and winter use of the facility easier, but the measurement technology from our house will also be integrated," explains Peter Riedel. He did not want to miss being personally on site for this significant event. "The location on a northern slope is predestined for the four hills," said Riedel, who promised: "We will contribute to achieving the ambitious completion target – January 2014!"
From a political side, it was emphasized that the construction of the hills goes hand in hand with hosting the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, but it is long overdue to also be able to jump and train in Vorarlberg, in the nearby home of Austrian ski jumping pope Toni Innauer, also in summer. For 20 years, the state and municipalities have worked together for a jumping center – and were supported by then Nordic sport director at the ÖSV: Innauer! Today, Elmar Egg is managing director of the Montafon Nordic Sports Center. "What he has achieved in a short time is noteworthy," says Riedel. "And Egg will also have our full support in the future!"