By A.J. GoldmannDec 36 Hours Innsbruck, Austria Jump to: Recommendations Itinerary Google Map By A.J has written for the Times about Austrian culture the mountains boast phenomenal hiking routes a cavernous beer hall in a reconstructed convent Despite its affluence, don’t expect to find much of a fine-dining culture in Innsbruck. Many of the eateries serve standard-issue Austrian classics, including greasy schnitzels, although local dishes featuring regional ingredients can be found at the city’s better restaurants. One of those is Restaurant Sailer between the central train station and the Altstadt The seasonal four-course prix-fixe (about €63) is an excellent deal A recent menu featured a tender deer saddle served with paunzen (a Tyrolean take on gnocchi) while a standout dessert was a red-kuri-squash pie in the shape of a pumpkin served à la mode with ginger and honey-roasted almonds Lunch with a view at the Seegrube restaurant 12 p.m. Eat a hearty dessert for lunch Back in the Altstadt, a marble plaque in front of the Goldener Adler serves as a historic guestbook for one of Europe’s oldest inns the author Albert Camus and the astronaut John Glenn Take your place alongside them in the hotel’s vaulted restaurant which is decorated with Hapsburg eagles and wrought-iron lamps flambéed in rum and served with raisins and powdered sugar is hearty enough (and perfectly acceptable) to be a main (or Enjoy with a mélange (strong coffee topped with foamy milk) or a Puntigamer a crisp local lager (€5.80 for a half-liter) butter dishes and salt containers out of sweet-smelling stone pine 5 p.m. Warm up at an Art Nouveau sauna Stepping inside the Dampfbad Salurner Strasse is like being whisked into a vanished world of pre-war Central European grandeur and elegance When you’re done ogling the decorative excess Choose between two dry-heat Finnish saunas a relaxing steam bath and a mild sauna with sinus-clearing eucalyptus aromas 8 p.m. Go nose-to-tail Refuel after your steam bath at Die Wilderin, a small farm-to-table restaurant in the Altstadt, with an easy-to-miss entrance (down a narrow alleyway and next to a vending machine of gourmet goods that the restaurant set up during a pandemic lockdown) The reward for your efforts in the owner Claudia Kogler’s split-level dining room is a frequently changing menu emphasizing local meat A nose-to-tail approach uses as much of the animal as possible innards included (the friendly service will help any apprehensive diner) A recent meal included a rich schmorbraten of free-grazing mountain sheep with fried eggplant and parsnip and a decadent venison burger with smoky bacon Buy a reasonably priced tap beer (from €1.90 to €3.90) at its circular bar with an illuminated countertop and enjoy a laid-back vibe that is a far cry from the swanky cocktail bars in the city center that cater to the après-ski crowd offers post-museum pick-me-ups like a mélange and apple strudel Cross the street to the Hofkirche the Court Church built by Emperor Ferdinand I a grand funerary monument that is surrounded by a gilded iron grille decorated with 24 marble reliefs depicting scenes from Maximilian’s life and capped with a bronze statue of the crowned emperor kneeling in prayer the cenotaph is arguably upstaged by the painstakingly detailed 28 bronze statues of Maximilian’s ancestors and role models (including King Arthur of England) that watch over it !function(m,a,i,l,s,t,e,r){m[s]=m[s]||(function(){t=a.createElement(i);r=a.getElementsByTagName(i)[0];t.async=1;t.src=l;r.parentNode.insertBefore(t,r);return !0}())}(window,document,'script','https://tibet.net/wp-content/plugins/mailster/assets/js/button.min.js','MailsterSubscribe'); Dharamshala: The Department of Education (DoE) is pleased to announce a fellowship opportunity offered by the University of Innsbruck This scholarship is offered to one eligible Tibetan refugee student to pursue a three-year Ph.D For detailed information on the academic programs please refer to the official website of the University of Innsbruck Interested applicants must submit all required documents online by 15 June 2025 UIBK will email the top-ranked candidate with: Once the applicant uploads all required documents the UIBK Admission Office and the relevant faculty will review the application within approximately 4 weeks the Admission Office will contact the applicant The applicant’s data will then be sent to OeAD/ Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation for further processing Final enrolment occurs in person at the UIBK Admission Office once the applicant arrives in Innsbruck * If the first-ranked candidate’s application is incomplete the process will continue with the next-ranked candidate His Holiness the Dalai Lama Offers Congratulations to Anthony Albanese on His Re-election as Prime Minister of Australia Sikyong Meets Current and Former Chairs of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee to Discuss Appointment of Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issue His Holiness the Dalai Lama Congratulates Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on His Party’s General Election Victory Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel offers condolence over the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis Tibet at a Glance Tibetan National Flag Global Tibet Movement Constitution Leadership Judiciary Legislature Executive Election Commission Public Service Commission Auditor General Religion and Culture Home Finance Education Security Information & International Relations Health Issues Facing Tibet Sino Tibetan Dialogue Middle Way Approach Dolgyal-Shugden © Central Tibetan Administration • Privacy Policy • Terms of Service The Games had been awarded to the city of Denver but the city withdrew on 15 November 1972 following a referendum which rejected the building of Olympic facilities for ecological reasons. Innsbruck offered to step in. It was accepted by the IOC as host city of these Games on 4 February 1973. The city had previously hosted the Winter Games 12 years earlier. The most memorable image of the Games was local hero Franz Klammer flying wildly down the downhill course, barely in control, on his way to a gold medal. Rosi Mittermaier of West Germany won two of the three Alpine skiing events and almost became the first woman to win all three. But in the final race, Canada’s Kathy Kreiner beat her by 12 hundredths of a second. Ice dancing debuted as a full medal discipline and was dominated by the Russians. In figure skating, American Terry Kubicka performed a back flip - the first time in the history of figure skating this dangerous move had been successfully performed. British figure skater John Curry tended to emphasise grace and artistic expression over athleticism, an approach that had cost him points with the judges in the past. But in Innsbruck, he combined his natural elegance with a series of stunning jumps and was rewarded with the highest points total in the history of men's figure skating. This was the second time the Games had taken place in this city, the first being in 1964. For this reason, two Olympic cauldrons were lit. 4 February 1976: There were two Olympic cauldrons, to celebrate not only the present Games, but also the previous time they had been held in Innsbruck, 1964. Two cauldrons were lit as a symbol of Winter Games being held twice in Innsbruck. The cauldron of 1964 was lit by Christl Haas (Alpine skiing) and the 1976 cauldron was ignited by Josef Feistmantl (luge). Medal TableSee the list of teams and medals won by each. The MedalsBeginning as an olive wreath, medal designs have evolved over the years.Medals The MascotAn original image, it must give concrete form to the Olympic spirit.Mascot The TorchAn iconic part of any Olympic Games each host offers their unique version.Torch bringing the action to Nordkette Skyline Park As one of the most exciting stops on the World Rookie Tour this event will gather the best young freeskiers from around the globe to compete in a Slopestyle FIS NYC competition aiming for a spot in the World Rookie Tour Finals later this season Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Austrian Alps the Nordkette Skyline Park offers a world-class slopestyle course that will challenge even the most skilled young riders With a perfectly shaped park and the vibrant energy of Innsbruck this event is not only a competition but a stepping stone for young athletes looking to launch their international careers The Innsbruck Rookie Fest is open to male and female freeskiers born in 2007 or later This event is a crucial platform for young talents offering a chance to compete under official FIS rules and showcase their skills on a global stage Note: The schedule is subject to change based on weather and snow conditions qualifications may start on Friday afternoon A list of recommended hotels can be found here: Innsbruck Accommodations Innsbruck is easily accessible via international flights and train connections making it a prime destination for competitors and their families The Innsbruck Rookie Fest is more than just a competition—it’s a gateway to the professional freeski scene and a community of passionate young riders this event is where the future of freeskiing takes shape riders can earn tickets to the World Rookie Tour Finals Download the complete info sheet Are you ready to claim your spot among the world’s best young freeskiers Your version of Internet Explorer is out of date It has known security flaws and can cause issues displaying content on this page Learn how to update your browser Army Garrison Italy Family and MWR Outdoor Recreation planned several tours to visit Christmas markets to give the opportunity to experience the special atmosphere in cities that traditionally host them one of the destinations in the past weeks was Innsbruck which has been hosting this event for 30 years “Innsbruck is a wonderful destination to visit throughout the whole year the Christmas market in the old town is very popular and worth a visit,” said Lucia Savio who has been accompanying the participants as one of the trip leaders some participants join ODR trips quite often with their family and friends ODR offers the opportunity to visit different places to experience and enjoy the sights,” she said Participants enjoyed strolling through the market and trying traditional dishes such as “kiachln” and a mug of glühwein picked this trip to explore Christmas markets after joining others on previous occasions “I came to Italy last year and heard about them customs and buy some things for the holidays for friends and myself,” she said Demeter added that she really liked the festive atmosphere of the market near the river it was nice to see the pretty lights and decorations," she said was impressed by the trip and has plans to visit another Christmas market “Definitely I’d recommend it,” he said after his first experience with Outdoor Rec see the city that I haven’t been to before and the glühwein was really good.” ODR will travel to a Christmas market and other destinations Bologna for New Year's Eve and Florence on Jan For those interested in the upcoming adventures with ODR check their calendar at https://italy.armymwr.com/calendar Best winter holiday atmosphere with Outdoor Recreation With several Christmas markets and a high chance of snowfall is one of the best places to celebrate the holidays Five days of top-class climbing ended at the legendary Kletterzentrum in Innsbruck in front of the fourth consecutive 3,000-people sold-out crowd as Austria’s Jakob Schubert and Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret updated their impressive medal tally Opening the show was home favourite Schubert and despite not clipping the highest quickdraw still finished with a best score of 49+ and claimed his 21st World Cup gold in the Lead discipline Schubert said: “Climbing here at home is always different and this route today was exceptionally special because it was such a crazy fight from halfway up Every move I felt like I was going to fall I might have not been the best climber on the route tonight And it was also only possible because of the crowd “I’m always really focused and don’t hear too much while I climb I wouldn’t recognise which song was playing but it was crazy loud when I made that move and I immediately knew that that was probably the victory From there I felt like I could almost enjoy it… I mean but it was crazy loud when I made that move and I immediately knew that that was probably the victory.Jakob SchubertCompleting the podium were experienced climber Alexander Megos of Germany USA’s Colin Duffy – who won gold in both Boulder and Lead in Innsbruck two years ago – took fourth position and Narasaki Tomoa – respectively concluded in fifth First-time final participant Jonas Utelli of Switzerland took seventh place For the men’s Lead final complete results click here As the rain kept falling on the Kletterzentrum the women’s Lead final started off the wrong foot as four of the first six athletes on the wall all fell on the same dynamic move and scored 22+ who spent quite some time on the crucial section she cruised towards the top and secured the last quickdraw with more than 15 seconds left on the clock putting all the pressure in the world on her rival Janja Garnbret’s shoulders Two days after winning Boulder gold in the very same venue the Slovenian 25-year-old put on a show for most part of her climb but ended up struggling to read one of the last moves and spent more than one minute trying to find the way to unlock it the Tokyo 2020 champion managed to survive the move and sealed the top score with only three second left because I’m always with my feet on the ground the feeling is incredible every single time,” commented Garnbret “This was my last World Cup before the Olympics I don’t take things for granted.Janja GarnbretThanks to a better placement in the semi-final round Garnbret won gold – making it now 28 in total in Lead World Cup competitions – while Mori had to settle for silver The podium was completed by Seo Chaehyun of South Korea with 36 took positions from fourth to seventh with 22+ mirroring the order they were ranked at the end of the semi-final China’s Zhang Yuetong closed in eighth place with 21+ For the women’s Lead final complete results click here The IFSC World Cup Series 2024 will continue in Chamonix, France, with Lead and Speed competitions taking place from 12 to 14 July. The last World Cup event before the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will then take place in Briançon The 31-year-old, who won the first event in Oberstdorf (GER) had slipped to third in the standings after placing eighth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) That race had been won by team-mate and rival Daniel Tschofenig, who ultimately finished third in Innsbruck, just ahead of fellow Austrian Jan Hoerl second and third positions in the overall Four Hills Tournament rankings with just 1.3 points separating them ahead of the finale in Bischofshofen (AUT) 5-6 January “I trained my whole life for this,” said Kraft after his first-ever victory in Innsbruck “It’s a childhood dream to win in this special atmosphere and special place “The second jump was so aggressive and one of my best ones (of his career) which makes me so happy I had to do this in order to be strong and I neede to take the risk to beat them (Hoerl and Tschofenig) 10 years has passed since an Austrian last won the Four Hills title with Kraft achieving that honour back in the 2014/15 season With Gregor Deschwanden (SUI) some 22.5 points off Tschofenig in third there is a strong likelihood the ‘Golden Eagle’ will be back in Austrian hands next week 61 athletes took to the hill in qualifying on Friday which – as with each of the Four Hill contests – would see the ski jumpers face off in a series of duels with five places in the second round also reserved for ‘lucky losers’ who attained a score ranking in the top of those who did not qualify automatically for the final round the American performed well and his score of 116.6 combined with a far from perfect jump by Geiger (110.1) saw Bickner take something of a surprise victory Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR) was another high-ranking ski jumper to suffer an early elimination, as was 11th highest qualifier Killian Peier (SUI) He was knocked out by Dawid Kubacki (POL) Pius Paschke (GER) who has won five World Cup stages so far this season delivered a competitive 128.5m to put him seventh heading into the final round Gregor Deschwanden (SUI) has been demonstrating some of the best form of his career this season but he would suffer a rare blip and place 10th at the halfway stage Johann Andre Forfang (NOR) has threatened to upset the Austrian dominance during recent World Cups and 130.5m as is becoming something of a tradition this season who thrilled the capacity crowd with a series of stunning jumps Michael Hayboeck (AUT) had welcomed in the new year by claiming just the second podium finish of his World Cup campaign with third in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) It quickly became evident he would not be repeating that accomplishment in Innsbruck but 131m in the second round helped him climb from 20th to 12th Making the greatest progress between the first and second rounds though was another Austrian, 2022 World junior bronze medallist Markus Mueller who had entered the third leg of the 2024/25 Four Hills contest fourth in the standings was expected to need a jump far in excess of 130m in order to retain any realistic hopes of challenging for an overall victory but with conditions worsening it enabled the Swiss to climb six places into fourth Certainly out of contention was Paschke, who had entered the Four Hills as the World Cup leader and aiming to become the first German to claim the ‘Golden Eagle’ since Sven Hannawald in 2022 123.7 points in round two saw him slip down the standings and lose further ground in the race for the 2024/25 Crystal Globe As the current yellow jersey holder Tschofenig may well be a contender for that crown later in the season but for now his sights are firmly set on Four Hills success 128.7 points saw him confirm a top-three place but only recorded his first World Cup victory this season during the opening Four Hills contest in Oberstdorf His jump of 132.5m enabled the three-time World champion to take a 10-point lead with fellow Olympic team gold medal-winner Hoerl the only athlete who could deny Kraft a further win Hoerl reached 131.5m and lower style marks ensured it would be Kraft who took the win and a lead over his Austrian colleagues heading into the final leg of the competition The field will now take the 180km journey east to Bischofshofen for the final event of the 2024/25 Four Hills Tournament 05.01.2025 – 16:30 – Start Qualification – QUA Men’s LH06.01.2025 – 16:30 – Competition start – WC Men’s LH *All times are in CET (Central European Time) and are subject to change Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Destination Innsbruck and Tirol Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Road upgrades Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Innsbruck 1964: Austria and Tirol step into the spotlight Innsbruck 1964 Legacy A hub for major events Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Austria’s national winter sports training base Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Much-needed housing Innsbruck 1964 Legacy The Winter Youth Olympic Games Innsbruck 2012 Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Axamer Lizum Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Bergisel Ski Jump Innsbruck 1964 Legacy Technology takes a leap forward Discover Olympic legaciesThe Olympic Games are all about their legacies The benefits that the Games create – from increased sports participation and educational programmes to a boosted economy and an improved urban environment – are numerous The Innsbruck Rookie Fest 2025 once again delivered an unforgettable weekend in Innsbruck where 47 young talents from eight countries competed in a world-class slopestyle showdown the Nordkette Skyline Park set the stage for the next generation of freeski stars Defending champion Benjamin Lengger (AUT) showed why he’s the rider to beat throwing down a Switch Left Double Cork 12 Safety Grab on the second kicker—easily the best trick of the event he secured 1st place in the Rookie Men’s category retained his Austrian Junior Champion title and added another major win to his collection after medaling at the European Youth Olympic Festival 2025 (EYOF) 🥇 Benjamin Lengger (AUT)🥈 Marco Klötzl (AUT)🥉 Lennart Bondarenko (GER) The Groms category at Innsbruck Rookie Fest 2025 was a showcase of young talent with 14-year-old Alex Putzer (ITA) leading the charge followed closely by fellow Italian Jakob Aichner and Austria’s Daniel Starr. 🥇 Alex Putzer (ITA)🥈 Jakob Aichner (ITA)🥉 Daniel Starr (AUT) Aila Paterson (GBR) put down an impressive run to take 1st place securing her spot at the World Rookie Tour Finals in Madonna di Campiglio all champions have secured their spot at the World Rookie Freeski Finals where they will face the best young riders from across the globe With their podium finishes, all winners have earned their ticket to the World Rookie Freeski Finals in Madonna di Campiglio where they’ll face the best young freeskiers from around the globe Innsbruck Rookie Fest 2025 has been one of the top stops on the World Rookie Tour providing young athletes a world-class platform to launch their competitive careers this event remains a key stepping stone to professional freeskiing World Rookie Tour co-founder Meinhard Trojer summed it up perfectly: “It is still exciting to accompany the stars of tomorrow as they take their first steps in competition See you next year for another epic edition of Innsbruck Rookie Fest 2025 Relive all the best moments from Innsbruck Rookie Fest 2025 with the full photo album on Facebook The inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games featured high-level sporting performances from 1,022 athletes, aged 15 to 18, who competed in 63 medal events across seven sports and 15 disciplines. The MascotAn original image it must give concrete form to the Olympic spirit.Mascot Dreamstime.com | People hike in Tirol region during summer time with a view of Innsbruck.Tourism is vitally important to Tirol and Innsbruck The Tirol tourism industry directly and indirectly employs 60,000 people and generates around EUR 8.4 billion in turnover Across the winter of 2016/17 and the summer of 2017 the region recorded a total of 47.7 million overnight stays Innsbruck attracted a record 3.2 million overnight stays in 2017 making it the second most popular city for visitors behind Vienna It projects itself as a sophisticated Alpine city offering excellent employment and leisure opportunities Innsbruck’s long association with the Olympic Winter Games – an event it staged twice in the space of 12 years – has played its part in this development The staging of the first of those Games in 1964 helped trigger the growth of the local tourism industry most of it made with the 1964 Games in mind combined with the increased global exposure that hosting the Olympic Winter Games provided helped the city attract growing numbers of visitors The local authorities made sustained efforts in the years afterwards to promote both Innsbruck and Tirol and showcase their Olympic credentials Those efforts were initially focused on the extensive use of the words “Olympia” and “Olympische” to denote the area its facilities and the venues built to stage the two Olympic Winter Games Names such as Olympiabahn – denoting the local rail network – and Olympiaregion Seefeld created a strong and long-lasting link between the host city and the Games That association is more understated today with the letter “O” having largely replaced both words – Innsbruck’s Olympic Village district is now known by its residents as the “O-Dorf” while the bus service connecting it to the city centre is referred to as the “O-Line” Olympiaregion Seefeld has retained its Olympic name and the Olympiaworld brand covers most of Innsbruck’s Olympic venues The improvements made to Innsbruck’s road network in preparation for the 1964 Olympic Winter Games also boosted tourism they helped to bring larger numbers of visitors to the city and region many of them enticed by what they had seen when watching the Games This helped Austria’s tourism income for the first nine months of 1964 to increase by more than 18 per cent on the same period in the previous year while total tourist income was higher than for any previous year in full Carefully planned with the future and not just the Games in mind improvements to the local road infrastructure included the construction of the first section of the Brenner Highway a vital link with Germany to the north and Italy to the south Innsbruck and Tirol’s Olympic venues have played their part in generating economic benefits creating jobs and boosting visitor numbers as have entities such as Innsbruck Tirol Sport (ITS) A not-for-profit company set up after the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to build on the event’s legacy and develop the expertise that it helped create ITS focused its energies on attracting events to the city it had helped set up 60 major and smaller events ITS generated over EUR 80 million in additional economic value A significant percentage of visitors to Innsbruck come for business the world’s leading trade fair for Alpine technologies which staged ice hockey matches at the 1964 Olympic Winter Games it hosts major medical conferences and also stages concerts and art exhibitions as part of Innsbruck’s thriving cultural scene The many venues on the Olympiaworld complex – two of them Olympic – host a wide range of events and concerts by leading performers such as Elton John The city continues to develop its image – not just trading on its Olympic status but building on it and looking for new ways in which to promote itself Following an extensive consultancy process in 2009 it set out seven aspects of the future city it wanted to become: fascinating Alpine mountains; specific sporting expertise; a vibrant urban space; avant-garde Alpine aesthetics; young intelligent and cosmopolitan inhabitants; healthy living; and ecological excellence Innsbruck has not lost sight of its Olympic past held in Innsbruck and nearby Seefeld in 2012 were warmly embraced and supported by the city’s residents and helped put the Olympic Games back at the heart of Innsbruck’s appeal to visitors The subsequent celebrations held to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Olympic Winter Games in 2014 and the fifth anniversary of the Winter YOG in 2017 underlined how important the Games remain to the city and to Tirol Olympic Membership - Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now schedule and how to watch liveAfter an electrifying start to the season in Lillehammer the 2024-25 Luge World Cup heads to Innsbruck Austria with another batch of world cup points on the line the second round of the 2024-25 Luge World Cup Welcoming 115 sleds representing 23 national federations for two days of world cup racing from 7-8 December the “Ice Channel” will add yet another chapter of sliding history to its storied curves introducing a newly constructed start area for the women’s singles and doubles’ events "The women's and doubles' start has already been moved up 200 metres,” confirmed FIL Sport Director Matthias Böhmer “The biggest challenge for athletes was the start curve which had a strange angle and ended the race for some women and doubles Moving the start doesn't make that much of a difference but it's nicer and more homogeneous to race.” Read on to discover more about the Luge World Cup Innsbruck, including the full schedule, key athletes to follow and how to watch competitions live from the chilly hills of Austria. sweeping all four events in luge at the Yanqing National Sliding Center It was a dominance echoed during the first round of the 2024-25 Luge World Cup with sliders from the European nation winning three out of the four individual events contested in Lillehammer and double threat Wolfgang Kindl all searching for victory on home ice View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina2026) Taubitz headlined the first race of the season in Lillehammer edging out Sweeney by 0.092 seconds to begin her world cup title defence in ideal fashion Schulte will fancy her chances of pulling closer to the German slider in the world cup standings on her home track with the margins of victory so slim in luge Schulte will need to produce some of her best sliding to stand any chance of finishing on the podium in the women’s singles event any pairs hoping to score a medal in the women’s doubles event will need to be in sensational form with razor-thin margins deciding the first race of the season in Lillehammer it was the American duo of Chevonne Chelsea Forgan and Sophia Kirkby that eked out a narrow victory over Germany’s Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal The mixed team relay will round out the weekend, with the first of six world cup competitions in the discipline taking place at Innsbruck. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Olympic Games (@olympics) and stay updated with results and reactions on the FIL’s Facebook Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Innsbruck 1976: the Olympic Winter Games return to Tirol Innsbruck 1976 Legacy A committed community of volunteers Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Destination Innsbruck and Tirol Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Enduring transport infrastructure Innsbruck 1976 Legacy The Winter Youth Olympic Games Innsbruck 2012 Innsbruck 1976 Legacy A hub for major events Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Austria’s national winter sports training base Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Olympiaworld Innsbruck 1976 Legacy Bergisel Ski Jump Watch the world’s top climbers tackle challenging routes and boulders Secure your spot now for an experience of lifetime at the Winter Olympic Games in the magical Italy The Bergisel Hill belonged to the Austrians, with Kraft, Hoerl, and Tschofenig dominating both rounds to the delight of local fans. Kraft, who won the first leg of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf, catapulted himself from second place in the opening round to first with the highest-scoring jump of the day with a 138.3 (132.5m). The 31-year-old Kraft relegated first-round leader Hoerl into second place scoring a combined total of 273.3 points for the win. Hoerl had to be content with his second second-place finish in this year’s Four Hills Tournament finishing just 1.4 points behind Kraft. Tschofenig conceded his lead in the overall standings after completing the podium in Innsbruck. World Cup crystal globe holder Kraft holds a narrow lead in the overall standings as the tournament moves to the fourth and final stop in Bischofshofen on 6 January. Kraft will be looking to regain the Four Hills Golden Eagle trophy a decade after he won it the first time. “That was one of my best competitions. In front of this crowd of 22,000 people and a lot of Austrian fans is crazy and a childhood dream,” Kraft told the FIS afterwards. “It is so close (the overall standings) with just one-and-a-half points between the top three. It is fantastic for our sport and good advertisement.” Olympic Membership - Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now! 🥇 While the Opening Ceremony had taken place at the foot of the Bergisel the Closing Ceremony was held in the Olympiahalle with the flag bearers of the 36 participating nations taking pride of place in the arena before Engan Veikko Kankkonen and Torgeir Brandtzæg received the applause of the crowd in stepping up to collect their large hill medals IOC President Avery Brundage officially declared the IX Olympic Winter Games closed The flame burning brightly atop the Bergisel was slowly extinguished to the sound of the song Innsbruck The Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck 1964 were a huge success in every sense and were superbly organised thousands of Austrian soldiers had transported snow from the peaks of the Tyrol down to the competition venues to ensure that the events went ahead without a hitch some 1,073,000 winter sports fans came along to watch the athletes in action on the slopes and at the ice rinks with the Alpine skiing events and ice hockey matches attracting record crowds Though it only had three years in which to prepare for its second Olympic Winter Games the city made use of and modernised its existing facilities and proved Seefeld remains to this day a fixture on the Nordic combined World Cup calendar and also hosts major international cross-country skiing and biathlon competitions while the Igls track is one of the world’s leading bobsleigh The large hill on the Bergisel is an essential destination on the world ski jumping circuit In December 2008 Austria’s fifth-largest city (population 121,000) received the majority backing of the IOC to stage the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012 an occasion on which it became the first city in the world to stage three Winter Games making yet another compelling contribution to the Olympic story improving infrastructure and bequeathing world-class sporting venues This helped trigger the growth of the local tourism industry with the local authorities making sustained efforts in the years after the 1964 Games to promote both Innsbruck and Tirol In successfully staging the 1964 Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck showed that it could be relied upon to host major events Innsbruck and the Tirol region hosted the Olympic Winter Games again 12 years later and have since staged the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) the 2016 International Children’s Winter Games and the 2018 UCI Road World Championships to name but a few major sporting competitions The quality of Innsbruck and Tirol’s Olympic venues which include the Bergisel Ski Jump and the Olympiahalle All nine of the Innsbruck 1964 competition venues which were used again for the Olympic Winter Games 1976 Six of them hosted Olympic events for a third time at the 2012 Winter YOG The volunteer network and ethos developed when Innsbruck staged the first of its two Olympic Winter Games continue to serve the city and region well Innsbruck and Tirol can draw on an extensive network of motivated helpers to staff the many major events they organise Nearly 1,400 of these volunteers were on duty at the 2012 Winter YOG 30 of them veterans of both the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck’s venues have helped the city become a centre of excellence for Austria’s athletes ski jumpers and speed skating teams all train in Innsbruck making use of facilities such as the Olympic Ice Track and the Federal Centre for Tobogganing The city is also home to the Tirolean State Sport Centre (Landessportzentrum Tirol) Part of the extensive Olympiaworld complex it offers state-of-the-art amenities and accommodation to high-performance athletes and is also used by local clubs the staging of the 1964 Olympic Winter Games helped create the infrastructure needed to support the region’s development It provided the impetus for improvements to the city’s road network which increased accessibility to the city and region and triggered economic growth Tirol’s tourism industry directly and indirectly employs 60,000 people and generated around EUR 8.4 billion in turnover in 2021 which attracted a record 3.2 million overnight stays in 2017 is the country’s second most popular city for visitors behind Vienna the building of an Olympic Village helped to alleviate the city’s post-war housing shortage with apartments made available to local residents after the Games also comprises accommodation built for the 1976 Olympic Winter Games and is currently home to around 7,000 people of over 50 nationalities Sources the first time that a city in Asia country had earned the right to stage an Olympics It had been developing its sports facilities since the 1920s building ski runs on the Patscherkofel as well as a wooden ski jumping hill on the Bergisel there is no doubting that the city owes its modern-day reputation as a leading winter sports and Olympic venue to the facilities it built in hosting the 1964 Winter Games The old ski jumping hill was demolished to make way for a large concrete construction that remains to this day one of the most acclaimed hills on the global circuit hosting one leg of the prestigious annual Four Hills tournament which lies 15 kilometres from the city and was chosen as the venue for the cross-country skiing and biathlon events and as the site for a new normal ski jumping hill Also purpose-built for the occasion were the Olympiahalle a magnificent 10,000-seater arena hosting the figure skating and ice hockey competitions which staged a number of ice hockey matches the outdoor rink where the speed skating events were held All these sites now form part of the famous OlympiaWorld Innsbruck sports complex which would go on to enjoy further development in the decades that followed the 1964 Winter Games 3rd February 2025 | Jane Peel, Innsbruck, Austria Is there a better ‘ski city’ anywhere in the world? If there is, I have yet to find it. In just four days I see the sights of Innsbruck and explore the slopes of four of the region’s ski areas. Innsbruck is a skier’s paradise but a great place to visit in its own right To come here and head straight for the slopes would be a mistake Taking time out to enjoy the city’s café/coffee culture eating the endless brunch available in the restaurant at the the top of the Bergisel ski jump overlooking the city… Brunch at the top of the Bergisel Ski Jump …before seeing what professional ski jumpers see as they prepare to launch themselves down the 120 metre jump I’m sitting on something they call the ‘tremble bench’ it’s surprisingly scary shuffling across to the start position The record distance jumped here in competition is 138 metres you’ll land on the flat and you’re dead Which is no doubt why there’s a strategically sited graveyard at the bottom Spot the graveyard at the bottom of the Bergisel ski jump I’m more comfortable back at the bottom on firm ground looking up at the jump and its impressive tower designed by the late Iraqi-British architect a visit to Bergisel is a must if you’re spending any time in the city Check out the weather forecast before you book to make the most of the views Although I am packing a lot in to a short stay in order to fully experience everything Innsbruck has to offer I’m going to have to return in the summer Because one of my main reasons for being here is to sample just a handful of the many ski areas little more than a stone’s throw from Innsbruck There are 6 that surround the city and 12 in total that are officially in the Innsbruck region which hosted almost all the alpine events at both the 1964 and 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics It is 19km from the city centre and easily accessible on the free buses that come with my Ski & City pass My route takes me from Innsbruck railway station to the village of Axams Then it’s a change to the ski bus that winds up the mountain to the resort base The whole trip takes around 50 minutes before I arrive at the car park at 1,560 metres altitude It’s clear there’s no shortage of snow with a view back down to Innsbruck in the valley below was bowled over when he first visited Axamer Lizum It may have little more than 40km of marked runs but who cares when they’re just so I guess I am lucky that my visit comes just 48 hours after a snowstorm blanketed Axamer Lizum – and the other areas I am to visit – in 50 centimetres of snow The largely north-facing slopes here are in perfect condition – grippy chalky and fast with plenty of steep pitches It’s probably the best on-piste skiing I’ve had so far this winter Most of the pistes are red and blue with just one black but it’s the sort of place where I could easily spend the whole day lapping the best of them over and over again it’s a very happy skier – and one grateful to find a seat on the bus – who is returning to Innsbruck Day two and I’m off to a ski area that I’ve never heard of it’s one of Innsbruck’s local ski hills Rangger Köpfl has a handful of family-friendly runs from the top at 2,000m to 1,400m they’ll open up a run down to the village of Oberperfuss below at 812m It’s popular with ski tourers who can climb up the side of the quiet slopes without interfering with those coming downhill Rangger Köpfl has undergone significant modernisation this year A 50-year-old T-bar lift has been replaced with a new I record my first impressions for the PlanetSKI Snow Report after a morning’s skiing on Friday 31 January And here I am on a corduroy piste late morning with not another skier in sight I travel a little further from the city to the highest ski area in the Innsbruck region Even better when there’s snow on the trees the skiing is more extensive than the other areas I’ve visited You can almost double that to 90km as the lift pass takes in both Kühtai and Hochoetz many of them to ski tour or use the cross-country tracks It is the highest ski village in Austria at just over 2,000m and the skiing rises to 2,520m There are plenty of challenging runs with the resort most suited for skiers and snowboarders who are at least good intermediates The majority of the runs are reds and blacks Even on a ‘busy’ Saturday afternoon on 1 February there are no crowds and the snow is excellent There is a lot of accessible off-piste but Muttereralm is a small ski area above the village of Mutters It’s less than 10km away from the city centre and a 15-20 minute drive View towards Mutters from the Muttereralm base station There are only around 15km of pistes from 1,800m down to around 950m There is one short section of black with the rest blues and reds so most of the people you’ll see are families with small children local kindergartens are the main clients of the ski school here One takes you all the way down to the Nockspitz gondola at Götzens and the other back to the Muttereralm base station It’s a sensible place to end my adventure as I manage to see the entire ski area (some of it more than once) in the 90 minutes I have before making the short hop to Innsbruck airport for an afternoon flight home Leaving the slopes when the sky is blue and the sun is shining is always a wrench but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Innsbruck Ski & City experience there are many more ski areas in the region that I’ve yet to see The Ski & City Pass includes all 12 ski resorts in the Innsbruck region with a total of 265 km of pistes It also includes 22 sights and attractions More information about all the skiing and everything on offer in the region can be found on the Innsbruck website money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports – web site For the Spirit of the Mountains – PlanetSKI: Number One for ski news Content copyright © 2025, PlanetSKI Ltd. | Privacy policy | Terms & Conditions we catch up with five athletes who competed in Austria and find out what they are doing now The British athlete raced in the women’s Super-G giant slalom and slalom in Austria and was then selected for the 2014 and 2015 World Junior Championships she has been training to qualify as a commercial airline pilot at the Flight Training Europe centre based in Jerez “The Youth Olympic Games were a really great experience and I won’t forget them for as long as I live,” she said “I learnt so much from the Culture and Education Programme and from just talking to other people from other countries Being exposed to Olympism at such a young age helped me equip myself for life beyond my athletic career and lay the foundations for my professional attitude From the Youth Olympics I learnt respect for others and how to be an ambassador for my country and sport.” The teenager was a member of the Swiss mixed curling team along with Michael Brunner Elena Stern and Romano Meier who claimed gold in 2012 Switzerland beat Japan and Sweden in the knockout stages en route to the final where they beat Italy 6-4 in the Innsbruck Exhibition Centre Gisler still curls – she came fifth in the 2017 Swiss Championships – and now works as an intern at a sports marketing company in Bern Heather MooneyCompeting in the biathlon mixed team relay with the USA helped Mooney realise her long-held ambition of becoming a full-time Alpine athlete The American won bronze in Innsbruck and is now a cross-country skier with the Craftsbury Green Racing Project team “Ski racing professionally has been a dream of mine since I was in elementary school,” she said My parents met while racing for the University of Vermont and my father competed in the 1976 Innsbruck and the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games.” Olivia ThomsonA competitor in both the women’s biathlon 6km sprint and 7.5km pursuit the New Zealand athlete is currently studying for a degree in Law and Commerce at the University of Otago She was appointed an IOC Young Ambassador for the Winter Youth Olympic Games Lillehammer 2016 Back home she also acts as secretary to both the Wanaka Biathlon Club and Biathlon New Zealand The American speed skater finished eighth in the women’s 3,000m race at Innsbruck 2012 and 13 The following year she won silver in the Junior World Cup; and in 2014 she competed in the Junior World Championships in Norway Jeong is now studying for a history degree at the prestigious Princeton University in New Jersey and also rows for her university Road to Milano Cortina 2026Who has qualified? When are events and livestreams? The latest stories of your favourite teams and athletes. Follow their journey to the Olympic Winter Games in Italy! The Innsbruck Games were threatened by a lack of snow. The Austrian army rushed to the rescue, carving out 20,000 blocks of ice from the mountain side and transporting them down to the luge and bobsleigh tracks. They also carried 40,000 cubic metres of snow to the Alpine skiing slopes and leave 20,000 cubic metres of spare snow as a back-up. Mongolia, India and North Korea all made their debuts, and the latter’s Han Pil Hwa took silver in the women’s 3,000m speed skating event, her country’s first Olympic Winter medal. In the bobsleigh, athletes raced on a track that used artificial ice – another first. This resulted in the sport losing much of its danger. Eighteen-year-old Marielle Goitschel of France finished in second place behind her older sister Christine Goitschel in the women's slalom. Two days later, Marielle got her revenge and finished ahead of her big sister in the giant slalom. In the bobsleigh event, Italy’s Eugenio Monti distinguished himself by helping British duo Tony Nash and Robin Dixon win gold when he loaned them a replacement axle bolt. The Italian team took the bronze and Monti was awarded the first De Coubertin Medal for sportsmanship. For the first time in the Winter Games, the Flame was lit in Olympia. Since then, it has always been lit there. Introduction of timing to a hundredth of a second in Alpine skiing. The Inn is the river from which Innsbruck takes its name. Its source is in the Swiss Alps some kilometres above St. Moritz. With the two St. Moritz editions in 1928 and 1948, and the two Innsbruck ones in 1964 and 1976, the Olympic Winter Games have been held four times on the banks of this river. For these Olympic Games, over one million spectators (1,073,000) flocked to the slopes and rinks to watch the champions’ performances. Record crowds turned up for the Alpine skiing events and the ice hockey matches. The Opening Ceremony was held at the foot of the Bergisel ski jump, in the ski jump stadium. From the top of the jump, the jumpers dominated the whole city and all the Olympic facilities. The Closing Ceremony was held at the Olympia Eisstadion, the rink used for figure skating and ice hockey. 9 February 1964, Innsbruck. General view of the Ice Stadium. The officials' oath at an Olympic Winter Games was first sworn in 1972 at Sapporo. The MedalsBeginning as an olive wreath, medal designs have evolved over the years.Medals The TorchAn iconic part of any Olympic Games 63-node LEO5 cluster integrated with AQT's IBEX Q1 system A quantum computer has been integrated with a classical supercomputer the University of Innsbruck The university and one of its spin-out companies announced this week that they had integrated a quantum computer into a high-performance computing (HPC) environment It is the first time this has been achieved in Austria The Innsbruck team has connected the university’s LEO5 cluster with AQT's IBEX Q1 quantum computer AQT's IBEX Q1 system is housed within standardized rack infrastructure the company’s laser-based quantum computer fits into two custom racks and can reportedly operate at room temperature with a power consumption of less than 2kW including a total of 36 nodes featuring Nvidia A30 It offers a total of 300 teraflops at FP64 (740 teraflops at FP32) “With the advent of quantum computers and their potential to solve certain problems in chemistry or materials science much faster than is classically possible quantum accelerators for HPC computers are a new very exciting possibility,” said Thomas Monz assistant professor at the University of Innsbruck and CEO of AQT The deployment is part of the FFG-funded HPQC project to demonstrate hybrid quantum solutions FFG is the Austrian funding agency for business-related research "The successful integration of a quantum computer into a high-performance computing environment marks a significant milestone for Austrian and European research and technology development,” Henrietta Egerth “This opens up completely new possibilities for mastering complex scientific and industrial challenges and shaping the future of computing This project impressively demonstrates the innovative power and technological lead that we can achieve in our country and shows the enormous potential and independence of the EU in quantum technologies The FFG is proud to support this groundbreaking development.” The University of Innsbruck also operates the LEO3e and LEO4 clusters A spin-off of the University of Innsbruck and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, AQT has previously partnered with T-Systems giving the latter’s customers access to the quantum company’s hardware through a cloud portal Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia From skiing under the stars or travelling through time at a Victorian Christmas market, to a magnificent carnival event that is only held every five years, the Innsbruck region is offering some treats this season. so much so that we have based PlanetSKI in the City a few times skiing the fabulous resorts in the area an immersing ourselves in the hospitality and culture of the region and in the winter of 2018/19 it was for three months It’s the ultimate Ski + City location in the Alps 13 ski areas around the city with 23 attractions off the slopes – all on one pass fun and adventure during the colder months and we welcome visitors to come and join the enchanting experiences we have planned this winter,” said the Marketing Manager at Innsbruck Tourism “There is a huge variety of entertainments sporting fun and festive spirit to enchant young and old alike.” Here are five recommendations from Colette Verra if you like a bit of variety in your ski trip: Perfect pistes and a magnificent mountain backdrop are yours to explore throughout the day and well past sunset in several areas of the Tirol this year A number of ski resorts around Innsbruck offer evening and night skiing on selected days: as an example you can ski on the Heiligwasserwiese on the Patscherkofel mountain every Tuesday and Thursday until 6.30 pm The floodlit slopes above the city’s sea of lights make for a particularly enjoyable and unique experience Top tip: direct access to the pistes from your hotel room is possible in Kühtai Numerous accommodation providers are located in the immediate vicinity of the lifts ensuring a straightforward ski-in ski-out procedure – even for nighttime skiers Appreciate the tranquillity and beauty of the surrounding snow-covered landscape on a leisurely ascent of the Rangger Köpfl – then the toboggan run down the mountainside is one of the region’s longest – a delight for young and old alike you can also treat yourself to a local speciality or two at the Rosskogel hut or the Sulzstich and Stiglreith restaurants Top tip: the unspoilt nature of the Simmeringalm is ideal for snowshoe excursions which will also open up magnificent panoramic views over the Mieming Plateau Towering majestically over the city of Innsbruck the large park at Ambras Castle is worth a visit at any time of year when snow covers this imposing Renaissance building it becomes the perfect setting for a romantic stroll through the grounds gorges and bridges – and enjoy the occasional dazzling display of colour from the Castle’s peacocks Top tip: you can even enjoy a city experience in the mountains – in Innsbruck The cable car whisks you straight from the city centre up to an altitude of some 2,000 metres the city is transformed into a fascinating winter wonderland – not least thanks to the many Christmas markets seductive scents and abundant treats appealing to all the senses The days leading up to Christmas are also celebrated in style in neighbouring towns and villages A Victorian-style Christmas market is to be held for the first time in neighbouring Telfs with the new musical ‘Scrooge,’ based upon Charles Dickens’s famous tale A Christmas Carol to be performed in the town hall Top tip: locals and visitors get in the mood for the upcoming festive season in the village of Igls on 23 December each year with a big Christmas procession Magnificently decorated hats topped with elaborate designs the Telfs Schleicherlaufen – ‘sneaky dash’ – is a carnival parade that offers an unmissable spectacle for onlookers from both near and far The carnival has taken place in this market town every five years since 1890 and on Sunday dance and ‘sneak’ through Telfs as part of a custom that is included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Top tip: extraordinary performances of a completely different kind can also be experienced at the Innsbruck Winter Dance Festival theatre and a variety of events happening from 30 January to 2 March 2025 Bonus tip: pick up a Welcome Card for stress-free sustainable travel trains and trams are a straightforward and environmentally friendly way to get around the Innsbruck region – for winter holidays too But that’s not all: in the case of the ‘Waldbahn’ or ‘forest tram’ (tramline no which stops near Ambras Castle on its route between Innsbruck and Igls it’s the journey itself that is part of the adventure The Welcome Card is the best way to travel around the city and environs available from partner establishments for stays of two nights or more not only includes a range of leisure activities but also provides free use of all public transport in the Innsbruck region Innsbruck Tourismus is the official destination management organisation for the Innsbruck region encompassing the capital of Tirol and over 40 localities in the surrounding area from the Inntal valley to the Mieming Plateau via Kühtai and as far as the Sellraintal valley With almost 3.5 million overnight stays (as of 2019) the Innsbruck region is one of Austria’s largest tourism institutions – a unique symbiosis of pulsating urban space and fascinating Alpine world The vibrant city atmosphere and sightseeing highlights are just a stone’s throw from your next biking or hiking tour is the key to the region’s boundless opportunities: public transport means that the area’s numerous highlights can be enjoyed both sustainably and comfortably Visitor enjoyment is the focus of the thoughts and actions of each of the organisation’s 90 or so staff: they pass on their passion and enthusiasm for this alpine-urban space to guests ensuring unforgettable holiday experiences for all in harmony with both people and nature With a total of twelve tourist information offices, Innsbruck Tourismus can stay close to visitors, be right in the action and keep a finger on the pulse of events – a true hub for the authentic stories and personal impressions of local characters that can be found on the popular blog and social media channels at #myinnsbruck there are parts of the city that Innsbruck residents wish they could keep under wraps; so here are a few of the places that locals would like to keep a secret from tourists Crystal-clear waters and no sign of modern life for miles on end, Lanser See, located on a sunny plateau just a stone throw away from the city centre A locals’ favorite destination for weekend getaways there are two naturist areas (including one specifically for women) for those who are inclined as well as a great expanse of lush areas perfect for sun bathers in the summer months and it attracts throngs of water-sports enthusiasts The restaurant at the top provides a great place to drink in the panoramic views while settling down with a coffee and some traditional-Austrian fare © Österreich Werbung / Asche The Höttinger Alm is a stretch of Nordkette Mountains’ alpine meadows and is popular with hikers and mountain bikers in the summer months Some who reach the peak choose to stay for a night or two in a chalet or dormitory for a quiet mini break from the city Celia Fitzgerald / Shutterstock Get Tickets This bizarre and intriguing site located a short distance from the city centre is an underground lair of all things that shine The Innsbruck Swarovski Crystal World is a museum and shop that was created in 1995 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Austrian-based company the glittering eyes of the giant glare out from the greenery and the underground chambers are a treasure chest of splendor Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Although Vienna is very much the ‘capital’ of coffeehouse culture famed for its traditional and beloved establishments Innsbruck has some beautifully well-preserved joints to discover is a fine example—a perfectly quaint setting in which to enjoy some classic Austrian cuisine and one that the locals probably wish they could keep hush hush This unique-bell museum takes visitors on a journey through the art of craftsmanship and the fascinating history of the well-established institution founded by the Grassmayr family As they continue to manufacture bells today visitors are invited to witness the casting and molding—a practice that is age-old The museum gives an insightful look at the significance of bells within our culture and their development in the Western world @onixion / Unsplash A lush oasis—perfect for a picnic in the summer time and artfully-arranged flower beds—all set against a mountainous backdrop hold an incredible 5,000 species from all over the globe Beautifully peaceful and artfully arranged locals will definitely want to keep this one on the down low © Austrian Tourist Board Get tickets Innsbruck is a champion of terrific views For those who do not enjoy hiking and gliding is a little too dicey the cable car offers a great option to experience the scenic delights surrounding the city Swooping across the country’s largest nature park panoramic scene of the complex landscapes below whose work includes the Bergisel Olympic Ski Jump the car picks people up from the Old Town and transcends them 6,560 feet (around 2,000 meters) up into the clouds in around 20 minutes See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do Lesser-Known Summer Destinations to Visit in Europe See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Architecture An Art Nouveau Architecture Tour Of Vienna Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best Road Trips in Austria US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd The opening competition day of the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024 presented two rounds of Boulder qualifications both featuring a record number of participants – 84 women and 98 men Coming from a the third place she secured at last month’s World Cup in Salt Lake City France’s Naïlé Maignan climbed to the top of the ranking after flashing all five boulders in group A Tied with Maignan was Germany’s 18-year-old Anna Maria Apel whose best placement in a Boulder World Cup event so far is the 16th place she took in Keqiao Five more athletes finished the qualification round with a perfect five-and-five: Israel’s Ayala Kerem and Slovenia’s duo Janja Garnbret and Katja Debevec in group A Also making it to the top 26 was Garnbret and Debevec’s teammate Jennifer Eucharia Buckley – 11th with four tops and five zones in her World Cup debut in the discipline Buckley has already won two European Cups in 2024 – in Klagenfurt For the women’s Boulder qualification complete results click here Despite being interrupted due to heavy rain the men’s Boulder qualification round provided good entertainment to the spectators of the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck as a pair of teenagers surprisingly finished in first place 16-year-old French climber Samuel Richard and 18-year-old Spanish climber Guillermo Peinado Franganillo placed at the top of the ranking with five tops and five zones each preceding a duo of Japanese climbers – Anraku Sorato and Amagasa Sohta – who followed in third with the same number of tops and zones Tokyo 2020 Olympian and Paris 2024 qualified athlete Colin Duffy of the USA took fifth place and I think I was in a good headspace,” said Duffy at the end of his round it is the site of my first Youth World Championships Every year it is a pleasure to visit and I’m excited to continue the competition.” For the men’s Boulder qualification complete results click here The IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024 will continue tomorrow with the women’s Boulder semi-final and final respectively taking place at 13:00 (UTC+2:00) and 19:30 The Zaha Hadid-designed Bergisel Ski Jump Tower in Innsbruck Austria’s central location in Europe has given it significant historic and cultural influence impacting its neighbors and reaching around the world Perhaps nowhere was this more evident than in Innsbruck where the Imperial Palace once served as the seat of the Habsburg Empire you can explore the palace’s hallowed halls and dozens of other baroque and Gothic architectural gems against panoramic views of surrounding Alpine mountain ranges And if you associate mountains with beauty and adventure there are views from the top at Bergisel Ski Jump where you can watch some of the world’s most elite winter athletes train While the city center is a treasure trove of historic jewels waiting to be discovered it’s worth starting your exploration further afield at Ambras Castle a medieval fortress surrounded by lush gardens and verdant forests It’s easy to see why the castle was Archduke Ferdinand II’s favorite residence and the center of the court’s cultural life Ambras Castle is considered the world’s first museum and it still houses an impressive collection of armory and the Habsburg Portrait Gallery The resplendent display is a comprehensive introduction to those who were a part of the world’s most storied monarchies for whom Innsbruck’s iconic Golden Roof was crafted in the city center from 2,657 copper tiles in honor of his wedding and the gates of its baroque facade are open to the public for tours Innsbruck is one of Austria’s epicenters for music and art the Court Theatre entertained Archduke Ferdinand Karl and his guests all are welcome to take in dance and theater performances and concerts This impressive neoclassical theater is conveniently located just across from the palace The lush gardens at Swarovski Crystal Worlds are just as much a marvel as the sparkling Chambers of Wonder exhibits For those seeking something more contemporary Swarovski Crystal Worlds is a one-of-a-kind experience in the valley near the company’s headquarters in one of Austria’s most storied centers of craftsmanship Founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895 in Wattens Swarovski’s location was chosen for its bountiful rushing waters and hydroelectric power a topiary pond in the center pays homage to that history with glittering treasures spread over 18 acres of pristine land 18 futuristic Chambers of Wonder exhibits play tricks on the eyes in the best possible ways summer visitors can enjoy lyrical treasures of antiquities during the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music when classic operas and rare pieces of music fill Tirol’s capital in July and August without some of Austria’s most iconic entertainment: yodeling yodeling was used to communicate across short distances in the Alps and the tradition lives on as a local custom and entertainment you can enjoy folk dances and traditional costumes served with a smile and Alpine comfort foods like Tiroler gröstl The Nordkette cable car brings you to the Top of Innsbruck or spätzle (small pasta-like dumplings with cheese) comes as second nature when recreation or transportation involves hiking or ascending great heights the pretty glass-enclosed restaurant at Bergisel Ski Jump Tower The snow sports-loving city has hosted the Olympics twice you can watch competitors train atop the Nordkette mountain range The futuristic tower and the Hungerburgbahn funicular were both designed by late star architect Zaha Hadid The funicular’s modern lines resemble a sleek glacier and its cable cars put the “fun” in funicular—many are worth a ride for the views alone You can also take the funicular and switch seamlessly to the gondola to reach Nordkette Mountain’s peak will want to ascend Patscherkofel mountain to hike through an 800-year-old pine forest or Mutterer Alm for a fast and furious ride down via Mountain Cart Innsbruck is one of the few places in the world where you say “It’s all downhill from here,” and that’s a good thing AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC With its many great ski areas and a stunning city, Innsbruck ticks all the boxes for a family adventure. NEW Because it really does have something for everyone has undergone significant modernisation this year The 50-year-old T bar lift has been replaced with a new visitors can enjoy a newly extended toboggan run and a panoramic cross-country ski trail The ski schools and rental shops on site ensure that even first-timers are well-equipped and supported Muttereralm is a haven for families and beginner skiers It offers 15 kilometres of gentle slopes and a dedicated children’s area for first-time skiers and snowboarders Kids can test their skills on the Almboden lift while adults tackle the scenic slopes served by the Nockspitzbahn Muttereralm also features two toboggan runs that wind through snowy forests covering nearly 5 kilometres before reaching the valley station Toboggans can be rented at the Muttereralmbahn base station To refuel after a long day of skiing the Experience Restaurant at Muttereralm offers delicious Tyrolean cuisine and breathtaking views For those who prefer to take a break from skiing the Innsbruck region offers numerous alternatives Families can enjoy winter walks on panoramic trails or explore Innsbruck’s cultural highlights including the Golden Roof and the Bergisel ski jump just a short ride away from the city centre “Innsbruck has always been a great destination when it comes skiing offering numerous family-friendly ski resorts in the area and it’s no surprise families come to learn how to ski here,” says Colette Verra “Whether you’re coming as complete novices or to perfect your skills and have a thrill-seeking holiday we have 12 resorts for you to have your ideal winter holiday “What makes Innsbruck truly unique is the opportunity to combine skiing with vibrant city life culinary experiences and a lively urban atmosphere Each resort is included in the SKI plus CITY Pass 22 city attractions and free public transport More information about the Innsbruck region can be found here. is a huge fan of skiing around Innsbruck and combining it with visiting the city will shortly be enjoying her first city & ski experience to the Innsbruck region The second stop of the 2024 IFSC Para Climbing World Cup series came to a close at the Kletterzentrum Innsbruck Austria as the medals were decided on a full night of Lead climbing Nineteen sport classes were in action with gold on offer in every one some serial gold medallists and some new names on the Para Climbing World Cup podiums Kevin Bartke produced a marvelous climb to top the men’s AU2 final route and with it securing the German climber a gold medal USA’s Brian Zarzuela was next best with hold 43 giving him a silver medal ahead of Norway’s Isak Ripmanon hold 42+ for bronze Great Britain’s Sebastian Musson was just off the podium in fourth France’s Solenne Piret once again produced a gold medal winning climb in the women’s AU2 ahead of silver medallist Lucia Capovilla of Italy USA’s Eleanor Rubin completed the podium with Germany’s Carolin Heberle missing out There were two tops in the men’s AU3 final with Switzerland’s Dominic Geisseler taking the gold ahead of Israel’s Mor Michael Sapir thanks to his better qualification climb Romania’s Liviu-Nicolae Matei took the final podium spot with hold 38 one better than Luxembourg’s Joe Schmit who missed out There was another qualification countback this time in the women’s AU3 as Rosalie Schuapert of Germany and Manca Smrekar of Slovenia both reached hold 27 It was the German climber who took the gold thanks to her better qualification climb with Smrekar settling for silver on this occasion There was another German climber on the podium with Ria Grindel reaching hold 17+ I’m just a bit tired as isolation was really long but it was challenging which was a good thing.” So if Schuapert didn’t like the route and won gold It was Austria versus USA in the men’s AL1 and to the delight of the home crowd it was Austria who came away with a gold and silver medal Angelino Zeller was in top spot with a hold 54 climb and he was joined by silver medallist and teammate Markus Pösendorfer on the podium Tanner Cislaw was the American climber to join them with teammate Jake Frank missing out Ethan Zilz of the USA took gold in the men’s AL2 with a 44+ climb Iván Germán Pascual of Spain took silver on hold 41+ and Belgium’s Frederik Leys took bronze on hold 40+ Missing out on the AL2 podium was USA’s Gavin Nix Japan’s Yuki Shuhei and Italy’s David Kammerer Yet another gold added to the collection of France’s Lucie Jarrige with a commanding win in the women’s AL2 Jarrige hit hold 42+ compared to silver medallist USA’s Morgan Loomis’ climb of 23+ Portugal’s Tânia Chaves was in bronze position with a hold 23 climb beating Japan’s Watanabe Masako and Great Britain’s Joanna Newton to the podium Japan’s Aita Sho continued his winning run with gold in the men’s B1 Hold 44 was good enough for top spot ahead of silver medallist Francisco Javier Aguilar Amoedo of Spain on hold 41 and bronze medallist Roland Paillax of Switzerland on hold 17+ A plus hold gave Romania’s Razvan Nedu a win in the men’s B2 with 39+ enough for gold ahead of silver medalllist Hamanoue Fumiya of Japan who reached hold 39 Bronze medallist Guillermo Pelegrín Gómez of Spain reached hold 28 with Italy’s Simone Salvagnin missing out on a medal I moved very smooth throughout until the last section where I was kind of stuck with my feet I couldn’t get my feet in the right position for my hands Romania’s Cosmin Florin Candoi produced a top in the men’s B3 to collect the gold medal Japan’s Minowada Kazuhiro split two Romanian climbers on the podium taking silver ahead of bronze medallist Daniel-Bebe-Vasilică Andrei With the podium decided after qualification in women’s B1 the final round was all about what colour medals would be going home with Italy’s Nadia Bredice USA’s Emeline Lakrout and Switzerland’s Laila Grillo The result remained the same as the previous round with Bredice taking gold Austria’s Linda Le Bon took strength from the home crowd to move up from third in qualification to take gold with a hold 60+ climb in the women’s B2 USA’s Seneida Biendarra just missed out on top spot and had to settle for silver on hold 60 Germany’s Ivon Lawerenz completed the podium in bronze position and Austria’s Edith Scheinecker missed out Linn Poston claimed gold in the women’s B3 with the USA climber hitting hold 60+ Hold 56 was the silver medal climb from France’s Elsa Boutel Menard with bronze medallist Ionela Dragan from Romania reaching hold 40+ Kim Rishaug of Norway moved above rival Aloïs Pottier in the final climb to take gold in the men’s RP1 something that Pottier and Germany’s Korbinian Franck just missed out on both reaching 40+ That was enough for Pottier to take silver and Franckt to take bronze Great Britain’s Luke Jamieson was sixth and Germany’s Sebastian Horn was seventh I just went for it and that’s what got me the win The others got the plus and I managed to get that last hold to win.” With Arco the third and final stop in 2024 In the men’s RP2 it was ‘as you were’ from qualification with India’s Manikandan Kumar taking gold ahead of USA’s Benjamin Mayforth Because of the qualification result Kumar took the top step of the podium with Mayforth ahead of teammate Brayden Butler who reached hold 42+ Missing out on the podium was Spain’s Iván Muñoz Escolar who reached hold 39 A 50+ climb took Japan’s Tadashi Takano to victory in the men’s RP3 ahead of silver medallist Jamie Barendrecht of the Netherlands Camille Caulier from Belgium took bronze despite reaching hold 36+ alongside France’s Bastien Thomas due to his better qualification round It meant Thomas missed out on the podium with Great Britain’s Luke Smith and Czechia’s Frantisek Rys Belgium’s Pavitra Vandenhoven continued her strong climbing in the women’s RP1 to take gold with a hold 50+ climb Spain’s Marta Peche Salinero overtook rival Eva Mol from the Netherlands switching positions from qualification to give the Spanish climber silver and Mol the bronze Switzerland’s Sarah Longhi was just off the podium in fourth In the women’s RP2 Italy’s Chiara Cavina came away with the gold as the rest of the field struggled with the route Austria’s Jasmin Plank joined Cavina on the podium taking silver and Norway’s Dina Eivis took bronze USA’s Caroline Winstel and Japan’s Matoi Futahashi missed out on a medal Nat Vorel of the USA stayed top in the women’s RP3 reaching hold 38+ for gold Great Britain’s Anita Aggarwal had a great final climb moving up from fourth in qualification to the silver medal position on hold 35 Italy’s Elisa Martin took the last spot on the podium on hold 31+ while Netherland’s Christiane Luttikhuizen missed oout on a medal For full results click here The third and final event of the year for the World Cup Para Climbers will be in Arco, Italy in September. With the Olympics moving ever closer into focus Austria welcomes nearly 300 climbers in both the Boulder and lead disciplines – some of those fresh from Paris 2024 qualification Climbers like Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Alberto Ginés López is in action after coming through the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) process with his ticket to Paris 2024 to try and defend his title Another Olympic champion in Innsbruck is Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret who returns to the World Cup circuit after missing the event in Salt Lake City Garnbret said: “I feel great heading towards a competitive week in Innsbruck I was able to focus on preparing for Innsbruck so I am really looking forward to competing again there is something extra with both Boulder and Lead competitions in just a few days so I want to prove to myself that I am on the right track as I did back in China at the start of the season.” Some of the other names backing up from last week in Budapest at the OQS are USA’s Anastasia Sanders and Kyra Condie in the women’s and South Korea’s Chon Jongwon and Belgium’s Simon Lorenzi in the men’s Germany’s Yannick Flohé and South Korea’s Seo Chaehyun arrived from Budapest with their Paris 2024 tickets and will be in high spirits to take on the competition There is also a host of the athletes who secured their Games place at the first try like home nation favourite Jakob Schubert and Japan’s Ogata Yoshiyuki while Australia’s Campbell Harrison punched his ticket at the Continental Qualifier in Melbourne at the end of last year Harrison said; “I'm really excited for the season to pick back up again here in Innsbruck I've been working really hard since the last World Cup in Salt Lake and I'm hoping I get to see some of those gains on the wall here but it's all building up towards the big goal of the Paris Olympics in August.” Joining Harrison from down under is Oceania Mackenzie who will be up against climbers like Garnbret Condie and someone looking forward to a home Games Competition begins with Boulder qualification for the men and women The Boulder competition will come to a conclusion on Friday 28 June before Lead take over for the weekend with qualification Making their first appearance at an IFSC World Cup in men’s Lead are: Making their first appearance at an IFSC World Cup in women’s Boulder are: Making their first appearance at an IFSC World Cup in men’s Boulder are: Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Austria's king of World Cup lead-climbing had walked up to the wall as the final act and lived up to his billing by winning his pet event in Innsbruck on Sunday (30 June) Five climbers followed Megos and as each approached the wall, the German no doubt shifted nervously in his seat. But as each effort fell short, Megos’ grin turned into a smile and was sitting pretty in first place by the time Schubert stepped out. Schubert had some nervous moments on the wall, but prevailed to relegate Megos to second place and claim another World Cup gold medal with a score of 45. “This route today was exceptionally special because it was such a crazy fight from halfway up. With every move, I felt I was going to fall,” Schubert told IFSC afterwards. “I might not have been the best fighter on this route but I was the best fighter and it would only have been possible with the crowd at my back. It was so crazy loud when I stuck that move up there and I immediately knew that was probably the victory.” Garnbret has not missed a beat since taking a brief hiatus from competitive climbing The Slovenian star skipped the Salt Lake City World Cup at the beginning of May and made a winning return this week winning both the boulder and lead titles The reigning Olympic champion had claimed victories in the World Cup boulder and lead openers in the People's Republc of China apiece in April Mori was in fine form with the 20-year-old making it past the midsection of the test which claimed four victims earlier in the final Mori cruised to the top of the route to lay down the challenge to Garnbret And she demonstrated her mental strength as she clipped the draw at the top with two seconds to spare With both she and Mori reaching the summit the eight-time world champion took the title on countback courtesy of her superior showing in qualification Simulation of quantum vortices superimposed with experimental data Supersolids are a new form of quantum matter that has only recently been demonstrated The state of matter can be produced artificially in ultracold A team led by Innsbruck physicist Francesca Ferlaino has now demonstrated a missing hallmark of superfluidity namely the existence of quantized vortices as system’s response to rotation They have observed tiny quantum vortices in the supersolid which also behave differently than previously assumed While the crystalline arrangement giving rise to the „solid“ nature of supersolids has been directly imaged the superfluid properties are much more elusive While researchers have probed various aspects of superfluid behavior such as phase coherence and gapless Goldstone modes direct evidence of one of superfluidity's defining features—quantized vortices—has remained elusive quantized vortices have finally been observed in a rotating two-dimensional supersolid providing the long-awaited confirmation of irrotational superfluid flow into a supersolid and marking a critical step forward in the study of modulated quantum matter In this new study, scientists combined theoretical models with cutting-edge experiments to create and observe vortices in dipolar supersolids—a feat that proved extraordinarily challenging. The Innsbruck team had previously achieved a breakthrough in 2021 by creating the first long-lived two-dimensional supersolid in an ultracold gas of erbium atoms “The next step—developing a way to stir the supersolid without destroying its fragile state—required even greater precision” explains lead author Eva Casotti Using high-precision techniques guided by theory the researchers employed magnetic fields to carefully rotate the supersolid this stirring caused the formation of quantized vortices which are the hydrodynamic fingerprint of superfluidity “This work is a significant step forward in understanding the unique behavior of supersolids and their potential applications in the field of quantum matter,” remarks Francesca Ferlaino revealing significant differences between the dynamics of vortices in supersolids and unmodulated quantum fluids and offering fresh insight into how the superfluid and solid characteristics coexist and interact in these exotic quantum states The implications of this discovery reach far beyond the laboratory potentially impacting fields ranging from condensed matter physics to astrophysics where similar quantum phases may exist under extreme conditions “Our findings open the door to studying the hydrodynamic properties of exotic quantum systems with multiple broken symmetries such as quantum crystals and even neutron stars,” said Thomas Bland who guided the theoretical development of the project it is assumed that the change in rotational speed observed in neutron stars—so-called glitches—are caused by superfluid vortices trapped inside neutron stars Our platform offers the opportunity to simulate such phenomena right here on Earth.” Superfluid vortices are also believed to exist in superconductors which can conduct electricity without loss Our work is an important milestone on the way to investigating new physics,” says Francesca Ferlaino “We can observe physical phenomena here in the lab that occur in nature only under very extreme conditions such as in neutron stars.” The work was published in Nature and funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG and the European Union Publication: Observation of vortices in a dipolar supersolid. Eva Casotti, Elena Poli, Lauritz Klaus, Andrea Litvinov, Clemens Ulm, Claudia Politi, Manfred J. Mark, Thomas Bland, and Francesca Ferlaino. Nature 2024 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08149-7 [arXiv: 2403.18510] Phone: +43 512 507-0 Contact us Legal Privacy Accessibility Certificates Carrosserie Hess is expanding again in Austria: the Swiss manufacturer closed a framework agreement to supply up to 80 vehicles for two Austrian networks by 2032. The first already has 42 vehicles supplied by Hess in operation to be joined by a further eight by February 2025 it is a welcome return: we are talking about Innsbruck a city that had trolleybuses from 1944 to 1976 and from 1988 to 2007 The network is operated by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetrieb und Stubaitalbahn GmbH IVB The important agreement provides for up to 60 trolleybuses in Salzburg and up to 20 others in Innsbruck with a capacity of 156 passengers; single and triple-car 24-metre cars will also be ordered; the cars will of course be equipped with battery packs for autonomous driving and In Motion Charging The cooperation between the two companies for the purchase of the vehicles allows for a not inconsiderable economy of scale with a reduction in the purchase cost per vehicle with only a few differences in some of the outfitting details the Salzburg-based company has already ordered the first 12 18-metre vehicles which will make it possible to increase the frequency on lines 9 and 10 and to plan the extension of line 12 the frequency of which will increase from 05.00 to 23.00 from the current 20 minutes to 15 and to set aside the remaining Van Hool AG 300 T. The frequency of lines 9 and 10 will decrease from 15 to 10 minutes from February 2025 when the 8 Hess currently under construction will enter service the frequency of Line 10 will decrease from the current 30 to 20 minutes The current Salzburg fleet of around 120 cars will not be able to cope with the planned service not least because the less performing trolleybuses will have to be stopped The trolleybus service is highly appreciated by users who voted against the extension of the local S Link railway on 10 November. The aim of the municipal administration is now to lower the trolleybus frequency to 7.5 minutes with a further reduction to 5-6 minutes for the busiest lines trolleybuses would share the electric mode with buses in view of the total conversion to electric by 2035 The new vehicles will allow the reconstruction of non-electric trolleybus sections along the entire length of the line on which the trolleybuses will recharge their batteries. The trolleybuses in Innsbruck are currently planned for routes C (Luigienstrasse-Sieglanger) R (DEZ South-Rehgasse) T (Rum Station-Vols Cyta South) and probably route 404 (Central Station-Axams-Grimens) the latter operated by Osterreichische Postbus AG. The frequency of the lines is about 15 minutes with some intensifications such as line 404 on weekdays has a frequency of about 7 to 8 minutes. passengerless tests were carried out using a LighTram 19 DC from Salzburg the third Austrian city to have the new-generation trolleybuses; the cooperative purchasing model is also interesting allowing significant savings per vehicle while still maintaining excellent product characteristics The choice of Innsbruck is further confirmation of the validity of the trolleybus vehicle © Copyright 2012 - 2025 | Vado e Torno Edizioni | All rights reserved | P.I The two-time Olympic host city will provide a picturesque backdrop for the competition held at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck the competition will feature separate Boulder and lead events for men and women Picture by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images 2022Janja Garnbret (SLO) competes in sport climbing during the European Championships Munich 2022 One climber stands out amongst the rest in the women’s Boulder and lead disciplines: Janja Garnbret from last year’s world championships stand as a warning for those trying to best her in Innsbruck The Slovenian superstar began the season with a pair of world cup victories in the Boulder and lead disciplines A decision to skip the third leg of the world cup narrowed the gap between her and her rivals in the world cup standings she will enter both competitions as the favourite in Innsbruck A victory will quiet any questions about her fitness heading into Paris 2024 Ai Mori will look to introduce some doubt into Garnbret’s Olympic preparations The 20-year-old lead world champion will make her season debut in Innsbruck after scoring a rare victory over Garnbret at last year’s world championships A rising star in Boulder and lead competitions Mori secured a quota for Paris 2024 after finishing third in the combined event at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships She will look to become the first climber from Japan to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris It's been nearly six years since her most recent World Cup victory but she has remained competitive on the international scene The 27-year-old finished seventh at Tokyo 2020 and bagged a silver medal in the combined event at last year’s world championships Pilz will rely on the support of the Austrian crowd to propel her towards the top of the climbing wall at the latest stop of the IFSC World Cup What does it take to train the Olympic champion in sport climbing We've asked Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Alberto Gines about the impact of his lomg-term coach David Macia They have been working together for 11 years Check out our exclusive interview with the young Spaniard The men’s lead competition will be headlined by Austrian world champion Jakob Schubert The 33-year-old won his fourth lead world title by the slimmest of margins beating Japan’s Sorato Anraku by a single reach for a hand hold He’ll hope to win by a safer margin in Innsbruck as he prepares for his second Olympic Games Schubert won a bronze medal in the combined event at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 With the speed discipline separated from the event for Paris 2024 he’ll look to improve upon that result in Paris His victory at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships will make him the prohibited favourite heading into Paris 2024 The Boulder and lead competitions in Innsbruck will give him a chance to simulate the Olympic combined event one last time before the Olympic Games Paris 2024 The 21-year-old has yet to win a senior world cup competition and has struggled to find the form that won him gold at Tokyo 2020 his recent results at the OQS will leave him more confident heading into Paris 2024 He’ll look to build on his eighth-place finish at last year’s lead world cup in Innsbruck While he hasn’t found the top step of the podium since then a second-place finish in the combined event at last year’s world championships has renewed his competitive fire He’ll look to top the climbing wall and the podium in Innsbruck as prepares to challenge for gold at Paris 2024 Adelina Sotnikova (RUS) showed great promise in the skating rink in her youth Her impressive artistic and technical attributes came to the fore in 2009 when she became Russian figure skating champion at the tender age of 12 She continued to excel in the years that followed this breakthrough winning three additional national titles (in 2011 2012 and 2014) and a junior world crown (in March 2011) in Gangneung (KOR) where she finished ahead of her compatriot Sotnikova was selected to represent Russia in the ladies’ singles at the Winter Youth Olympic Games Innsbruck 2012 where she was regarded as one of the favourites On the 15 and 17 January in Innsbruck’s Olympiahalle battling nerves and an on-form Tuktamysheva had to content herself with a silver medal once the short programme and free skate were complete “It’s all about what goes on in your head,” she said disappointed but nevertheless satisfied to have perfectly executed her triple-triple combinations After finishing second in the 2013 ISU European Figure Skating Championships behind Carolina Kostner (ITA) Sotnikova began focusing all of her efforts on the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi where she would perform in front of her friends and family father and little sister to be proud of me and happy for me because I’ve been dreaming of an Olympic gold medal since I was 12 when I became Russian champion for the first time.” she was initially overshadowed by 15-year-old starlet Yulia Lipnitskaya who was chosen ahead of her in the new team trophy event and who then put in a sensational performance to help Russia claim a very popular gold medal it was Sotnikova’s time to step back into the limelight With Camille Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor playing in the background the talented 17-year-old proceeded to produce a technical masterclass that included a triple lutz-triple toe combination in a free programme that enthralled the fans in the Iceberg Skating Palace improved on her best score of the season by a remarkable 18 points to secure the gold medal The gold is mine; I can’t believe it,” she exclaimed I wondered if I had what it takes to succeed I feel so lucky and happy to have won; it was my dream to win in Sochi “I’m very happy that the Games are being held here in Russia because my fans provide me with a massive level of support I gave my country a gift – I knew that I could do it Following the disappointment of losing out on gold at Innsbruck 2012 and being replaced by Julia Lipnitskaya in the team trophy at Sochi 2014 Sotnikova bounced back to become the first Russian Olympic champion in ladies’ figure skating Simulation of the formation of particle-antiparticle pairs in two spatial dimensions The study of elementary particles and forces is of central importance to our understanding of the universe Now a team of physicists from the University of Innsbruck and the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo show how an unconventional type of quantum computer opens a new door to the world of elementary particles The standard model of particle physics is our best theory of the elementary particles and forces that make up our world: particles and antiparticles such as the electromagnetic force that binds charged particles To understand the behaviour of these quantum fields and with that our universe researchers perform complex computer simulations of quantum field theories many of these calculations are too complicated for even our best supercomputers and pose great challenges for quantum computers as well leaving many pressing questions unanswered Using a novel type of quantum computer, Martin Ringbauer’s experimental team at the University of Innsbruck, and the theory group led by Christine Muschik at IQC at the University of Waterloo Canada report in a publication in the journal Nature Physics how they have successfully simulated a complete quantum field theory in more than one spatial dimension The crux that makes simulations of quantum field theories challenging for quantum computers comes from the need to capture the fields that represent the forces between particles such as the electromagnetic force between charged particles These fields can point in different directions and have different degrees of strength or excitations Such objects do not neatly fit into the traditional binary computing paradigm based on zeros and ones which is the basis of today's classical and quantum computers The new advance was possible through the combination of a qudit quantum computer developed in Innsbruck and a qudit algorithm to simulate fundamental particle interactions developed in Waterloo This approach is based on using up to five values per quantum information carrier to efficiently store and process information Such a quantum computer is ideally suited to the challenge of representing complex quantum fields in particle physics calculations “Our approach enables a natural representation of the quantum fields which makes the computations much more efficient,” explains Michael Meth This enabled the team to observe the fundamental features of quantum electrodynamics in two spatial dimensions Already in 2016, the creation of particle-antiparticle pairs was demonstrated in Innsbruck we simplified the problem by restricting the particles to move on a line Removing this restriction is a critical step to use quantum computers to understand fundamental particle interactions,” says Christine Muschik Now the teams have presented the first quantum simulation in two spatial dimensions “In addition to the behaviour of particles we now also see magnetic fields between them which can only exist if particles are not restricted to move on a line and bring us an important step closer to studying nature,” explains Martin Ringbauer The new work on quantum electrodynamics is just the beginning With only a few qudits more it will be possible to extend the current results not only to three-dimensional models which holds atoms together and contains many of physics’ remaining mysteries “We are excited about the potential of quantum computers to contribute to the study of these fascinating questions,” says Ringbauer enthusiastically Christine Muschik and Martin Ringbauer in discussion The research was financially supported among others by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Canada First Research Excellence Fund Publication: Simulating two-dimensional lattice gauge theories on a qudit quantum computer. Michael Meth, Jan F. Haase, Jinglei Zhang, Claire Edmunds, Lukas Postler, Alex Steiner, Andrew J. Jena, Luca Dellantonio, Rainer Blatt, Peter Zoller, Thomas Monz, Philipp Schindler, Christine Muschik, and Martin Ringbauer. Nature Physics 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02797-w [arXiv: 2310.12110] Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The physicist prepares the experiment in a helium-cooled cryostat Quantum states can only be prepared and observed under highly controlled conditions has now succeeded in creating so-called hot Schrödinger cat states in a superconducting microwave resonator shows that quantum phenomena can also be observed and used in less perfect “We wanted to know whether these quantum effects can also be generated if we don't start from the ‘cold’ ground state,” says Kirchmair In their study published in the Science Advances the researchers used a transmon qubit in a microwave resonator to generate the cat states They succeeded in creating the quantum superpositions at temperatures of up to 1.8 Kelvin – which is sixty times hotter than the ambient temperature in the cavity “Our results show that it is possible to generate highly mixed quantum states with distinct quantum properties,” explains Ian Yang who performed the experiments reported in the study Researchers generated highly mixed quantum states with distinct quantum properties The researchers used two special protocols to create the hot Schrödinger cat states These protocols were previously used to produce cat states starting from the ground state of the system “It turned out that adapted protocols also work at higher temperatures generating distinct quantum interferences,” says Oriol Romero-Isart until recently Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Innsbruck and research group leader at IQOQI Innsbruck and since 2024 Director of ICFO - the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona “This opens up new opportunities for the creation and use of quantum superpositions for which achieving the ground state can be technically challenging.” “Many of our colleagues were surprised when we first told them about our results because we usually think of temperature as something that destroys quantum effects” who helped develop the theoretical understanding of the experiment “Our measurements confirm that quantum interference can persist even at high temperature” These research findings could benefit the development of quantum technologies “Our work reveals that it is possible to observe and use quantum phenomena even in less ideal warmer environments,” emphasizes Gerhard Kirchmair “If we can create the necessary interactions in a system the temperature ultimately doesn't matter.” The study was funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the European Union Publication: Hot Schrödinger Cat States. Ian Yang, Thomas Agrenius, Vasilisa Usova, Oriol Romero-Isart, Gerhard Kirchmair. Science Advances 2025 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adr4492 The Sunday TimesFancy a snowy slice of winter with your city break This former hub of the Holy Roman Empire is in the Alps and at this time of year the view from its airport is a giddy where the Olympic skier Franz Klammer won gold in the downhill event in 1976 And there in the middle is one of Europe’s most important staging posts: where the German-speaking world pauses for breath before venturing across the Brenner Pass into Italy Don’t ignore this juxtaposition of civilisation and wilderness Innsbruck’s prosperous streets may shelter several eye (and ear) catching monuments as well as come-hither shops with irresistible cakes but what makes a couple of days here magnificent is when you mix the city with the slopes “Was I really standing at the top of an alp?” you’ll ask yourself Then you’ll look down and see the snow still wedged between your bootlaces The view over Innsbruck from the Nordkette mountainsTOM BAUSE48 hours in Innsbruck — at a glanceDay one • Morning: Nordkette mountains • Lunch: Restaurant Seegrube• Afternoon: Grassmayr bell foundry • Drink: Café Katzung• Evening: Wander the old town • Dinner: Restaurant Lichtblick • Morning: Try a ski jump• Lunch: Futterkutter• Afternoon: Golden Roof Museum• Drink: Adlers hotel bar• Evening: Lumagica at the Hofgarten• Dinner: Ottoburg which you can access using its Ski City Plus Pass (two days for £123; innsbruck.info) But you can get your downhill thrills vicariously too by visiting the Bergisel ski jump (£9.50; bergisel.info) Ride the lift to the top of the Olympic-standard ramp and imagine sitting at the top waiting for the moment when you lift your bum off the bar competitors are travelling at 60mph.• Here’s another thing about Innsbruck you won’t believe: the athletic intensity of a dance called the Moresca It was all the rage when the Emperor Maximilian I made the city his capital at the end of the 15th century but thanks to four relief sculptures in the Golden Roof Museum we can get a sense of the body-contorting physicality of its dancers this is a window on a different medieval world (£5; innsbruck.info).• Innsbruck loves to hold winter light shows bathes the Hofgarten in a twinkling tableau you will get lost amid the fairylight balloons and giant golden insects The twinkling Lumagica light showDANIJEL JOVANOVICWhere to eat and drinkRestaurant SeegrubeOne cable car down from the Hafelekarspitze this restaurant has views almost as good as those from the top as well as a menu brimming with the region’s favourite dishes Fortify yourself with a Tiroler Gröstl fry-up of potatoes before your final snowball fight (mains from £14; seegrube.at) Café Katzung is one of the city’s best for coffee and cakeDAVID JOHANSSONThis is Austria so you can’t let the day slip by without some coffee and cake and some of the best is served beneath Innsbruck’s vaulted arcades at Café Katzung Ignore the chocolate Sachertorte because it’s a Viennese invention — the curd and hazelnut Katzung torte is the taste of the Alps (cakes from £3; cafe-katzung.at) Finish the day in the company of Innsbruck’s uptown boys and girls as they toast their good fortune at this glittering top-floor restaurant Could that be because its three-course menus start from just £35 a head After a mouthful of its sweet chestnut ravioli served with parmesan chips and seared duck breast you’ll be celebrating too (restaurant-lichtblick.at) so make lunch snappy by joining the locals in the queue for the Futterkutter food cart which you can eat with a spoon on a nearby bench (from £9; futterkutter-innsbruck.at) The 12th-floor bar at Adlers hotel has brilliant views of the cityBe quick You need to get up to this 12th-floor hotel bar before nightfall the view mixes rooftops and jagged peaks to head-spinning effect so it’s the perfect place to order a glass of fizz and toast a city that makes no sense without its mountains (prosecco from £5; adlers-innsbruck.com) It may once have been a stern-faced fortification overlooking the River Inn but these days feasting is the rule at the Ottoburg restaurant which makes merry with Tyrolean staples such as venison stew it’s served with redcurrant jelly and apple-infused cabbage and is so sweet and comforting that you’ll feel as if you’ve been wrapped in fur (mains from £17.50; ottoburg.at) This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue A sauna and indoor pool at Hotel das InnsbruckCHARLY LAIRBook a design double for a touch of glitzLight-as-a-feather duvets and a bountiful buffet breakfast should put the Das Innsbruck somewhere near the top of your hit list especially if you can stretch to one of its lush They are festooned with good-looking (and practical) lights The hotel is close to the pedestrianised old town which gets busy (B&B doubles from £120; hotelinnsbruck.com) One of Weisses Rossl’s 17 bedroomsDAVID JOHANSSONModern style ancient historyDon’t be fooled by the modern makeover which has endowed the rooms with plush buttoned headboards black-tiled showers and giant hand-turned wooden lamps this is an inn with a 600-year history and just 17 bedrooms but the rooms offer the best balance between size and price (B&B doubles from £149; roessl.at) Artful simplicity and delicious cheesecakeThis exquisite B&B is one step away from the old town the simple decor creates a sense of calm with pale walls So too the lemon-scented cheesecake they serve with coffee (B&B doubles from £163; faktorei-innsbruck.com) and then ride the F bus for about 15 minutes into town Buy a 48-hour Innsbruck Card online before you arrive (£58; innsbruck.info) As well as complimentary trips up both the Nordkette and Patscherkofel it offers free entry to the city’s museums and unlimited use of its trams and buses Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners Sign up for the travel newsletter and follow us on Instagram and X Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. From November 22nd to 24th, Innsbruck kicks off the winter season with Snowfest 2024 – Rock A Rail Ski & Snowboard Contest. the third edition of this freestyle spectacle celebrates the vibrant diversity of winter sports This tour brings top-tier street snowboarding and street skiing with the best riders in the world Rock A Rail is the only rail tour for snowboarders and freeskiers worldwide snowboarders like 2023 Rock A Rail Champion Paula Benito and the winners of the Thun stop Livia Tanno and Nick Puenter are confirmed They’ll compete alongside Fridtjof “Fridge” Tischendorf Laura Wallner and Olivia Asselin will showcase their skills Image credits SnowFest Innbruck; Simon Rainer & Markus Fischer The individual fragments of the ivory pyx found in a marble shrine laid out as a panorama archaeologists from Innsbruck have been carrying out excavations in a late antique hilltop settlement in the municipality of Irschen in southern Austria they made a sensational discovery: a Christian reliquary was still hidden in a previously unknown church It contained a richly decorated ancient reliquary box made of ivory On 4 August 2022, a team of researchers led by archaeologist Gerald Grabherr made a spectacular discovery in an early Christian church on the Burgbichl in the municipality of Irschen in southern Austria: A marble shrine measuring around 20 by 30 centimetres was hidden under the altar in the side chapel area The shrine contained a heavily fragmented ivory “box” (pyx) richly decorated with Christian motifs – a reliquary that is normally taken away as the “holiest” part when a church is abandoned It is the first such pyx to be found in an archaeological context in Austria “We know of around 40 ivory boxes of this kind worldwide and the last time one of these was found during excavations was around 100 years ago – the few pyxes that exist are either preserved in cathedral treasures or exhibited in museums,” explains the finder she has now conserved the individual pieces of the ivory pyx to such an extent that they can be scientifically analysed “Due to the very high humidity of 90 per cent in the marble shrine immediately after salvage the risk of condensation and mould formation was very high and the contents could not be allowed to dry out too quickly This meant we had to ensure a very careful and prolonged drying process.” The larger parts are deformed which is why the pyx can no longer be restored to its original state – however the researchers are working on a 3D reconstruction While the archaeologists initially assumed that the remains of a saint – i.e a relic in the classic sense of the word – were also found in the marble box the layering of the fragments found in the shrine indicates that the ivory pyx was already broken in late antiquity and was buried in the altar “The pyx was presumably also seen as sacred and was treated as such because it was in contact with a relic The archaeological and art-historical significance of the pyx cannot be denied,” emphasises Gerald Grabherr the pyx shows a figure at the foot of a mountain – the man depicted is turning his gaze away and a hand rising out of the sky above him placing something between the person's arms “This is the typical depiction of the handing over of the laws to Moses on Mount Sinai the beginning of the covenant between God and man from the Old Testament,” says Gerald Grabherr This is followed by depictions of biblical figures you can see a man on a chariot with two horses harnessed to it – and here a hand coming out of the clouds pulls this figure up into heaven “We assume that this is a depiction of the ascension of Christ The depiction of scenes from the Old Testament and their connection with scenes from the New Testament is typical of late antiquity and thus fits in with our pyx; however the depiction of the Ascension of Christ with a so-called biga is very special and previously unknown.” According to the researchers another possible interpretation of the scene is a depiction of Elijah – but the hand of God which does not appear in similar depictions the usual handing over of the cloak to Elisha is also missing,” says Gerald Grabherr Close-up: Moses receives the commandments from the hand of God Close-up: Ascension of Christ on a biga A number of further investigations into the Irschen reliquary are currently underway: “On the one hand we still need to determine the exact origin of the marble and we also want to specify the origin of the ivory and the elephant using stable isotope analyses Metallic components – the hinges of the pyx were made of metal – are also still being examined as is the glue that was used for the ivory,” explains restorer Ulrike Töchterle wooden parts were also found in the marble box presumably parts of the pyx's clasp – it cannot be completely ruled out but it is unlikely that this could be a relic after all “These pieces of wood are also being analysed more closely; we are particularly interested in the type of wood and its origin and the age is also of interest to us,” says Ulrike Töchterle Ivory fragments of the pyx arranged in the round on a white background Irschen is a municipality in the Carinthian Drava Valley in southern Austria, where archaeologists from the University of Innsbruck have been carrying out excavations since 2016 They are investigating a late antique hilltop settlement that has been abandoned since around the year 610 and had so far been completely forgotten covering an area of around one hectare (≈ 4.47 acres) the researchers have found and documented several dwellings two Christian churches and a cistern in addition to the personal belongings of the settlement's former inhabitants; a star-shaped baptismal font and a reliquary were discovered in one of the churches Gerald Grabherr describes: “Towards the end of the Roman Empire especially in the peripheral provinces of the empire the inhabitants increasingly founded settlements on hilltops that were easier to defend and left the valley floor.” The year 610 marks a turning point: in this year the Battle of Aguntum takes place not far from the Irschen settlement where a Slavic army meets Baiuvari armies and settlers marks the end of the region's affiliation with the ancient Mediterranean world and also with Christianity – the Slavic settlers bring their own world of gods with them The settlement on the Burgbichl has been abandoned since this time at the latest