Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, ÖPC President Maria Rauch-Kallat and ÖOC President Karl Stoss accepted the Olympic Team Austria collection for next year’s postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games on Thursday.
The Olympic medal winners from Rio, Tanja Frank and Thomas Zajac, rowing ace Magdalena Lobnig and markswoman Sylvia Steiner were represented at the Ministry of Defense, as were Paralympic athletes Yvonne Marzinke, who will be competing in para-cycling, hand cyclist Walter Ablinger and para-swimmer Andreas Onea. And they are all training at the Austrian Armed Forces Sports Center. Hundreds of boxes are waiting to be stored. The 28 Euro pallets alone weigh 700 kilograms. The Tokyo look will be presented in May, until then the equipment produced by Erima will be stored by the Austrian Armed Forces at the Army Clothing Center in Brunn am Gebirge. “This is not a symbolic act, but an expression of appreciation,” emphasized the host, Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner. “We are equipped to store large quantities of clothing professionally. And we are always on hand when men and women are in need. With a total of 405 sports soldiers – including 238 summer sports athletes – the Austrian Armed Forces is one of the largest sponsors of sport.” “Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures. We are happy to have found a quick, unbureaucratic solution,” said ÖOC President Karl Stoss. “The IOC and the Japanese organizers are working hard to make the Olympic dream come true for the 11,300 athletes despite the pandemic.” Successful sailors Tanja Frank and Thomas Zajac confirmed: “The equipment is part of the Olympic flair!” Traditionally, the proportion of servicemen and women in the Olympic Team Austria is at least 50 percent. No fewer than six of the last 15 Olympic medals were won by members of the Army Sports Center.
“The Austrian Armed Forces have also been an important partner of Paralympic sport since 2016, when the Armed Forces Sports Center was opened to the first disabled athletes. Like the joint outfitting with the ÖOC, this is a visible sign of inclusion in sport,” said ÖPC President Maria Rauch-Kallat. Austria has currently secured 38 Olympic and 10 Paralympic quota places and can count on 70 Olympic athletes and 30 Paralympic starters. A total of over 250 people will be equipped. The ÖOC and ÖPC will be wearing the identical Team Austria look for the ninth time. “We are really looking forward to Tokyo. We would like to thank the Austrian Armed Forces for the professional storage,” explained Erima Managing Director Willy Grims. The Tokyo collection will remain “under lock and key” until May. The only exceptions to this are basic items such as T-shirts and polo shirts, a track top jacket and tracksuit, which will still be available in stores for sports fans this year.
