How not to get Olympic Games: Destination managers instead of strategists

This article generally deals with the level of acceptance the population of Tyrol showed for the Olympic Games in Innsbruck in the past (1964 and 1976) and in these days (applications for 2002 and 2006). Moreover, it explains the reasons which led to a decrease in sympathy for Olympic Games among the local population during the last years. Particularly most people in the city think, that tourism drives up prices, increases traffic, reduces parking space, destroys the environment and so on. On the other hand, the people in the country‐side, especially in the tourism resorts, have a more positive opinion about tourism, because they see the advantages for them directly. In 1993, the application for the Olympic Winter Games 2002 was negative with 73% of the votes. In 1997, a second referendum for an application for 2006 was held. The result in the province of Tyrol was positive with a majority of 69%, but the voters in the city of Innsbruck rejected the proposal by 53%. The author works out the thesis, that a well organized campaign could have had a positive result already in the first referendum in 1993. He also points out, that one of the main mistakes was the fact that there were no engaged entrepreneurs supporting the idea of Olympic Games, but mainly politicians and functionaries. Other reasons for the rejection and increased scepticism of the population are the concentration on the city of Innsbruck, the lack in clearly demonstrating the advantages in financial income, infrastructure and employment as well as the opinion that tourism only meets the interest of the hotel industry.