By Sammy Heywood Okine
The 75th AIPS congress is being held in Innsbruck, Austria from Tuesday
January 12 2012, at the time the city will be hosting the first ever Winter
Youth Olympic Games.
It will be a breakaway from tradition as it will be the first time
that the AIPS Congress will be held in wintertime. This year’s congress had
earlier been awarded to Rome who withdrew.
The President of the Austrian Sports Press Michael Kuhn received
the AIPS flag from his counterpart from Korean Sports Press Association Ohsang
Kwon during the handing over and signing ceremony of the last Congress in South
Korea city of Seoul.
“It will be difficult to keep the standards set here in Seoul but
we can do it and we will do it…it will be different because it is the first we
shall be holding our congress in winter time on the scenic Austrian mountains,”
said Kuhn who co-hosted the 2007 Congress with Liechtenstein.
Christine Stelzer, Head of Convention Bureau Tirol said the
congress would also give the journalists a wonderful opportunity to attend the
Youth Olympics in one of the best destinations for winter sports.
“It will be a unique and special experience for the AIPS delegates
in Innsbruck which is located in Tirol province as they will also get to experience
the youth Olympic Games which starts on January 13.
The AIPS Congress is scheduled for January 11-16 2012, at Hotel
Kaltschmid, with the Winter Games set for 13-22. Friday is the Official Opening
with the participation of Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer, followed by
AIPS Fair Play and Power of Sport Awards Ceremony. Saturday is day Of Alpine
Skiing Fis-World Championships 2013 Schladming – Austria. There would be a
Gala-Dinner
in Innsbruck Congress House - invitation by County of Tyrol and City of
Innsbruck.