The association of rifle Pillersee and the brass band Hochfilzen provided the atmosphere, the VIP tent at the World Championship stadium the appropriate setting – with the welcoming reception of the federal state of Tyrol at the Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen they organized a real highlight at the end of the first week of competitions.

from right: state councillor Sonja Ledl-Rossmann, Tyrol’s governor Günther Platter, mayor Konrad Walk, Head of Military General Staff Othmar Commenda

In his speech, Tyrol’s governor Günther Platter emphasised his satisfaction about this event: “The Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen can be regarded as first class event. Over the past decade, biathlon has developed to a sport that is able to draw large audiences and to guarantees for good quota. The World Championships again provide the Tyrol with the opportunity of presenting itself in the best way possible and to reinforce its reputation as a top sport and tourism destination.”

In the presence of state councillor Sonja Ledl-Rossmann, Head of Military General Staff Othmar Commenda, abbot German Erd, the General Secretary of the Austrian Olympic Commitee (ÖOC) Peter Mennel, councillor Beate Palfrader, the head of the provincial government Josef Geisler and mayor Konrad Walk Tyrol’s governor summarized the previous happenings and emphasised his pride of the Tyrol’s outstanding position regarding the organisation of major sports events.

“Those Biathlon World Championships are one out of a range of top-class events that will take place in our state in the course of the upcoming three years: Besides the Bobsleigh World Championships, that already took place end of January, and the current event in Hochfilzen Tyrol is also going to host the Climbing World Championships, the Nordic combined World Championships as well as the UCI Road World Championships. Those three additional major sport events will put Tyrol in the spotlight of the international sport world again and will further strengthen its position of being the top sport destination of the Alpine region.”