Innsbruck
1964

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.

NOCs: 36

Athletes: 1,091 (199 women, 892 men)

Events: 34

Volunteers: N/A

Media: N/A

The Flame Was Lit in Olympia

For the first time in the Winter Games, the Flame was lit in Olympia. Since then, it has always been lit there.

Precision Timing

Introduction of timing to a hundredth of a second in Alpine skiing.

A Pre-destined River

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.

One Million Spectators

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.

Opening and Closing Ceremonies in Different Stadiums 

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.

Ceremonies

9 February 1964, Innsbruck. General view of the Ice Stadium.

Official Opening of the Games by:

President Dr Adolf Schärf

Lighting the Olympic Flame by:

Joseph Rieder (Alpine skiing)

Olympic Oath by:

Paul Aste (bobsleigh)

Officials' Oath by:

The officials' oath at an Olympic Winter Games was first sworn in 1972 at Sapporo.