IOC Evaluation Commission chair Chick Igaya with Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli. (ATR)

(ATR) The head of the IOC Evaluation Commission finds it difficult to find a weakness in the Salzburg bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics, while the city’s mayor tells Around the Rings the second attempt in a row to win the Games doesn’t get easier.

“They have a very good bid and I have full confidence that they would produce a wonderful Games,” said Chiharu Igaya at the close of four-day inspection of the Salzburg bid.

Igaya was hard-pressed to find much to pick apart with Salzburg. He was only able to name a slight concern about transport issues involving hotels, but indicated that it was one that could be easily solved.

When asked about the strengths of the bid, Igaya cited Austria’s great tradition of winter sport and the experience that would bring to an Olympic Games.

"Winter sports in Austria have a real culture and tradition and they have so much expertise to organize the Games," Igaya said.

Salzburg’s two other competitors each picked up a cautionary comment from Igaya during his press conferences last month in PyeongChang and Sochi.

Igaya said he was concerned about Korea’s limited experience and success in winter sports outside of speed skating. In Sochi he wondered whether there was enough time to carry out the massive works needed to stage the Games.

IOC Olympic Games Executive Director Gilbert Felli said Wednesday’s meeting with representatives of a group opposed to the Salzburg Olympics bid went as planned, as a listening session.

"We were there not to negotiate but to listen to their concerns," he said.

Igaya and colleagues travel Sunday to Lausanne where they will work for the next few days on the draft of their final report. Igaya said the report will be distributed to IOC members on June 4.

Salzburg Mayor: “A Very Good Week”

“I think we conclude a very good week,” said Mayor Heinz Schaden at news conf

Salzburg Mayor Heinz Schaden: “What drives us is the desire for winter sports.” (ATR)

“There was no question left open in the briefings, during the visits to the venues. I think we could deliver our strong points, that we are maximum-ready for the Games,” said Schaden.

“This is the original alpine setting, this is the real thing,” he said.

In comments to Around the Rings, Schaden says this second bid from Salzburg is no easier, even with the experience of the 2010 campaign.

“It was much more into details. But it was not difficult as such,” which Schaden attributes in part to the more compact venue plan for this bid.

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IOC member Leo Wallner and Trixi Schube, 1972 figure skating champion, farewell members of the IOC commission. Schube heads to Tokyo next week to lobby for Salzburg at the figure skating world championships.(ATR)

Salzburg Press Review

Notes from the Austrian press covering the IOC visit, prepared by Heinz Peter Kreuzer

Salzburger Nachrichten: Chancellor Albert Gusenbauer and Vice-Chancellor Molterer guarantee the entire support of the government for Salzburg’s Olympic bid.

“I have no doubt, that the people will love the Games, said Gusenbauer.

Salzburger Volkszeitung: Korean journalists don''t understand that there are no people on the street cheering and waving flags, because the people have to work or are on holidays. The Koreans have seen the snow in Zauchensee and Flachau, but declare Austria as the country without snow.

Kurier: Asked about the seeming lack of enthusiasm for the bid, Chancellor Gusenbauer answers: "In our country, doubts against new things are always big at the beginning.

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