Ice channel and Bergisel

New splendor for two Tyrolean sports landmarks

Lots of political celebrities at the ground-breaking ceremony for the renovation work on the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck.(Bild: IKM/Bär)

Innsbruck owes its international reputation as a sports city above all to the Winter Olympics. Two sporting landmarks are now being modernized. The Igl ice channel is being given a new outrun at a cost of 27.4 million euros, and new mattings are being laid on the Bergisel ski jump.

Although the construction work has already begun, the official ground-breaking ceremony took place on Friday with many prominent politicians from the city, state and federal government. The Olympic ice track in Igl is being modernized at a cost of 27.4 million euros in order to once again meet the requirements of the international federations.

There was no question that the Ministry of Sport would support the necessary renovation. Austria not only has a great tradition in luge, bobsleigh and skeleton, but has also enjoyed great success. So far, Austria has won 29 medals at the Olympic Games.

Vize-Kanzler Werner Kogler

The reconstruction plans include an extension of the outrun and thus a new construction from curve 13. However, there will be no major loss of training or racing. "The new track will be completed in the next two years and connected to the existing track in 2025," explains Olympiaworld Managing Director Matthias Schipflinger.

Skeleton ace Janine Flock (left) and luge world champion Lisa Schulte with sports councillor Georg Dornauer.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Igls ready for the 2026 Games
The Igls ice track would therefore also be modernized in time to be able to step in as a venue for the 2026 Games. There are still doubts as to whether the Italian organizers will actually be able to stomp out a new track in Cortina d'Ampezzo. "The sports city of Innsbruck owes its international reputation above all to the Winter Olympics. Perhaps the Igl ice track will have to prove its Olympic quality sooner than we think," explained Innsbruck's mayor Georg Willi.

New mattings for Bergisel
The modernization of the Bergisel ski jump is proceeding much faster. It has been a hive of activity since February 29. New mats from a Finnish company are being laid on an area of around 4420 m².

New mattings have been laid on the landing hill since February 29.(Bild: SkiAustria/Erich Spiess)

The work should be completed by April 30th. High-flyers Stefan Kraft and Co. will therefore be able to perform their first mat jumps on the Innsbruck Bakken when training starts in May.