Opening of the Austria House in Rio de Janeiro 2016 (archive image)
The Austria House has been a fixed and meeting point at the Olympic Games for decades. This was intensified even more in the recent editions of the world's largest sporting event, but there will be no Austria House in Tokyo in July and August. Due to the pandemic, the Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) had no choice but to do without this institution this time. The usual reception of guests would not have been possible either.
“Unfortunately, the Austria House had to be canceled about 14 days ago,” said ÖOC Secretary General Peter Mennel on Wednesday at a press conference in Vienna 100 days before the start of the Games. “No foreign spectators are allowed. There will also be restrictions on athletes getting in and out of the village.” The ÖOC got off financially well. Mennel: “But we were able to draw up a corresponding contract with the landlord in advance.”
Accordingly, there are only low cancellation costs, the rest of the rent will be transferred back. “We were much better off than many other NOKs who lost large sums of money in rent last year and will lose this year,” emphasized the Vorarlberg resident. “We're getting out of this well. Thank God we already took this eventuality into account in this balance sheet last year.”
The red-white-red meeting will take place after all, and online. “We are working flat out to have a digital Austria house,” explained Mennel. Food as usual is of course not possible, but other core elements. “The meeting of Japanese and Austrian economies, tourism. And we want to accompany sport from the Olympic Village with a digital Austria House.” Austrian fans should also be involved.
