(ATR) Here is a press release from Salzburg 2014 announcing the appointment of Rudolf Hoeller and Gernot Leitner as joint Executive Directors of the city's Olympic bid.

From left: Heinz Schaden, Gabi Burgstaller, Rudolf Hoeller and Gernot Leitner. (Salzburg 2014)

Rudolf Hoeller and Gernot Leitner appointed as Executive Directors of Salzburg Winterspiele 2014 GmbH

At the end of the advertisement period for the post of Executive Director of Salzburg 2014 GmbH, Rudolf Hoeller and Gernot Leitner were appointed as joint Executive Directors of the bid company. Both were already provisionally entrusted with the management position following Fedor Radmann’s resignation for health reasons.

In his new role as Executive Director, Rudolf Hoeller will be responsible for the key areas of marketing, communication, finance and administration and will maintain close contact with professional associations. Gernot Leitner’s role will be to control international relations and the Games plan as well as being responsible for the Games’ operating budget and overseeing the bid document.

Rudolf Hoeller comments: "It makes me very happy and is a great honour that the supervisory board has expressed confidence in me and Gernot Leitner and appointed us as Fedor Radmann’s successors. On an international level, the Salzburg bid is repeatedly confirmed as being well in the running and we will continue to work hard to bring the 2014 Winter Games to Salzburg."

Gernot Leitner stated, "Since the summer of 2004 we have worked on the Salzburg 2014 Olympic Winter Games project. For me it is both an honour and a challenge to lead the Salzburg bid in the coming four months to what we hope will be a positive result for us in Guatemala City."

Heinz Schaden, Leo Wallner, Heinz Jungwirth and Franz Klammer represent the Salzburg bid on an international level

Top representation and overall responsibility for the project are the responsibility of the mayor of Salzburg, Heinz Schaden, and the Austrian Olympic Committee (AOC). AOC President, Leo Wallner, is in charge of IOC members and, along with AOC Secretary-General Heinz Jungwirth, he is also responsible for the Olympic Family. Heinz Jungwirth is also in touch with the national Olympic Committees. Franz Klammer, as Chairman International, represents the Salzburg 2014 bid in the sporting domain and to the members of the Olympic Family. Also Gabi Burgstaller and Wilfried Haslauer, as well as the entire Austrian Federal Government, promote the Salzburg 2014 Olympic bid at all of their public appearances.

Heinz Schaden comments, "We have entered the critical phase. Rudi Hoeller and Gernot Leitner have already worked brilliantly as Fedor Radmann’s deputies and are his logical successors. Now it is a question of rolling our sleeves up again and ensuring we deliver a good presentation to the IOC Evaluation Commission, which will boost further our chances of being awarded the Games."

Leo Wallner is just as positive, stating, "The team in Salzburg has done outstanding work up to now. Internationally, our bid is very highly regarded, as confirmed to me time and time again in many discussions. Appointing Rudi Hoeller and Gernot Leitner is the best solution. Their experience, coupled with the hard working team, means we can travel confidently to Guatemala for the decision on 4th July."

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.