Presentation of the country's main security and sports institutions and bodies

• Ministry of Sport
• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Justice

Independent sports safety bodies

National independent safety bodies: No

National public coordination safety bodies: No

Main sports in the country

• Football
• Tennis
• Skiing
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Ice and Stick Sports
• Climbing
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Athletics

National Olympic Committee

Home / Österreichisches Olympisches Comité

Main sports federations and leagues

Sport Austria

A non-profit institution, which represents the interests of sports both in Austria and in international organisations.

• Sport Union: Startseite - SPORTUNION Österreich
• ASKÖ: ASKÖ Bundesorganisation
• ASVÖ: Allgemeiner Sportverband Österreichs
• Football
• Austrian Football League: Bundesliga.at - Offizielle Webseite der Österreichischen Fußball Bundesliga
• Skiing
• Ice Hockey
• Austrian Ice Hockey League: bet-at-home ICE Hockey League

National football authorities

Football

Austrian Football League: Bundesliga.at - Offizielle Webseite der Österreichischen Fußball Bundesliga

There are 197 spotters working under supervision of the National Football Information Point (NFIP).

Relevant good practices in the S4 domain

The Platform for Safety, Security and Sport contains various measures aimed at an integrated approach. In addition to various security cooperation initiatives, it also includes proposals for legislative changes and other measures to fully implement this approach to safety, security and service in Austria.

• Developing a COVID-19 guide to ensure the Safety at Sport Events
• Developing a Visa manual especially due to COVID-19 travel rules.

Last major sporting events organised since 2000 and key elements of their legacy

• Men’s European Football Championships 2008, Innsbruck – Klagenfurt – Salzburg - Wien
• Men’s European Handball Championships 2010, Graz – Innsbruck – Linz – Wien – Wiener Neustadt
• Men’s European Volleyball Championships 2011, Innsbruck – Wien
• Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships 2005, Wien – Innsbruck
• Ski Alpine World Championships 2001, St. Anton am Arlberg, 2013 Schladming
• Nordic Skiing World Championships 2019, Seefeld
• Snowboard World Championships 2015, Kreischberg
• Freestyle-Skiing World Championships 2015, Kreischberg
• Ski Flying World Championships 2006 + 2016, Kulm
• Biathlon World Championships 2005 + 2017, Hochfilzen
• Luge World Championships 2007 + 2017, Igls
• Beach Volleyball World Championships, 2001 Klagenfurt, 2017 Wien
• World Athletics Indoor Championships 2002, Wien, Ferry-Dusika-Stadion
• Short-Track Swim European Championships 2004, Wien
• Rowing World Championships 2008, Ottensheim

The country’s main sporting competitions

• Formula 1 – Grand Prix of Austria, Spielberg, Red Bull Ring
• Men’s Alpine Skiing – Downhill + Slalom, Kitzbühel, Hahnenkamm
• Men’s Alpine Skiing – Slalom – Schladming, Planai
• Men’s Ski Jumping – 4 hills tournament, Innsbruck + Bischofshofen
• Men’s Football – Austrian Bundesliga
• Men’s Football – UEFA Europa League + UEFA Champions League
• Men’s Football – National Team Competitions
• Running – Vienna City Marathon, Vienna
• Men’s Tennis – Erste Bank Open, Vienna
• Beach Volleyball – Major Series, Wien
• Triathlon – Iron Man, Klagenfurt

Future major sporting events organised and/or co-organized within the next 5 years

• Ski Alpine World Championships 2025, Saalbach/Hinterglemm

Official fan clubs of the Austrian national football teams: Offizielle Fanklubs

Fan Clubs of SK Rapid Vienna: SK Rapid :: Unsere Fanklubs

Fan Clubs of FAK Austria Vienna: FK Austria Wien | Offizielle Fanklubs

National legal framework on sports safety and security, including specific legal provisions on:

• Veranstaltungsgesetz & Veranstaltungsstättengesetz: both are federate states’ laws and therefore not issued by the Federal State
• Pyrotechnics Law 2010
• Penal Code
• Police Security Act

Sport is no primary federal matter in Austria. Most laws concerning sports and sports events, including their safety and security, are issued by the nine Federate States specifically for their territories. A great part of the provisions of the Convention are already in place through these laws.

Existence of specific safety, security and/or service public policies

There is no official specific law on safety, security and/or service, however, the laws mentioned in the legal section add up to some of these concerns.

Additionally, police forces use the 3D-Philosophy at sports events. The three Ds are representing dialogue, de-escalation and impose/enforce (“durchsetzen”) which are applied in that order. The philosophy shall assure that before any hard measures are being taken any situation arising should be dissolved through dialogue and de-escalation first.

Police authorities may suggest a stadium ban for certain people to the committee for prevention and stadium bans which then decides independently. Clubs are responsible for the observation of any ban issued. Bans may last between six months and ten years and are only valid nationally.

Existence of a national strategy on security, safety, and services

The “Plattform Sicherheit & Sport” serves as the official national strategy also reflected in the current government’s programme.

Existence of (a) regional/ local strategy(ies) on security, safety, and services

Specific sport events will have a strategy laid out by the organising committee which then might also fit into the region’s strategy. Additionally, the department I/13 at the Federal Ministry of Interior offers advice to sport event managers if needed.

Major risks and trends on violence and disorder

The risk of any misuse of pyrotechnics in football but also at skiing and ski jumping events is always high. However, the current methods and strategies used by the security forces as well as the revised law on pyrotechnics have lowered the immediate risk of major disruption.

General violence also always depicts a risk at events, especially football matches. In recent years, racism, discrimination and hate speech became more of an issue too. This phenomenon not only can be observed at sport events with physical presence but also online.

Last major incidents which seem relevant and enlightening on the need to adopt an integrated approach to safety, security and service

At the Viennese Football Derby in December 2018, fans of one of the clubs threw pyrotechnics and snowballs on the motorway on their way to the match. Hence, the motorway had to be closed temporarily. As a result, more than 1000 fans were asked to identify themselves and had to wait outside until the end of the police operation. Reports differ about the severity of the situation and whether or not fans who needed to, were assisted by ambulance services or not.

Derby-Einsatz: Pürstl fordert Gespräch

Evolution of total incidents over the last 5 years