POPULATION:
1,986,965 (2001)
CLIMATE:
Average temperature
February: 4.8° C
Average precipitation
February: 115.6 mm

POPULATION:
143,978 (1991)
CLIMATE:
Average temperature
February: -0.1° C
Average precipitation
February: 61.6 mm

POPULATION:
46,478 (2002)
CLIMATE:
Average temperature
February: -7° C
Average precipitation
February: 105 mm

SALZBURG
One of Salzburg's biggest advantages is that some of the world's best winter sporting venues are already in place, including the renowned Kitzbuehel downhill ski run, in a storybook setting.

But, despite its many qualifications, the Salzburg bid could done in by IOC politics. With the 2004 Summer and 2006 Winter Games already being staged in Europe, and with several leading European cities in the hunt for the 2012 Games, Salzburg might be passed over in the interest of moving the Games off the continent.

Strengths:

• Austria remains one of the leading Winter Olympic powerhouses, particularly in the marquee sport of alpine skiing.
• A storybook winter vacation destination.
• Well-organized bid enhanced by plenty of already-existing venues and infrastructure, as well as experience in staging winter sports events.
• City's rich cultural history will resonate well with the largely European membership of the IOC.
• Geographically compact bid, with most venues within relatively easy reach of each other, requiring relatively little altering of environment.

Weaknesses:

• Only a few hundred miles from Torino, Italy, the site of the 2006 Olympics.
• Would be the fourth straight Olympics in a time zone out of sync with North American viewing habits — television networks may apply pressure for a North American host city.
• Need for bigger stadiums for hockey and skating events and transportation upgrades.