Lack of Snow
The organisers had to cope with serious problems concerning snow conditions. The Austrian army had to remove 20,000 blocks of ice from the mountain side and transport them down to the luge and bobsleigh tracks. They also had to transport 40,000m3 of snow to the Alpine skiing slopes and leave 20,000m3 of spare snow as a back-up.
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.
New Asian NOCs at the Winter Games
For the first time, delegations from Mongolia, India and North Korea took part in the Olympic Winter Games. Thanks to Pil Hwa Han, who took silver in the women’s 3,000m speed skating event, North Korea won its first Olympic Winter medal.
ARTIFICIAL ICE FOR THE BOBSLED
For the first time, a bobsleigh track that used artificial ice was built for the Games and as a result the bobsleigh conditions became more controllable and the competition lost much of its danger.
Ceremonies
Innsbruck, 9 February 1964. 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.