DESCRIPTION

The Innsbruck Olympic emblem surrounded by the legend IX OLYMPISCHE WINTERSPIELE lies atop its obverse while a cityscape of Innsbruck and Austrian Alps adorns the reverse with the designer’s name WELZ lies at approximately three o’clock. The medals were presented in a red plastic wallet with white colored writing, coat of arms and emblem

THE GAMES

The 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck were threatened by a lack of snow. The Austrian army rushed to the rescue, carving out 20,000 ice bricks from a mountain top and transporting them to the bobsled and luge runs. They also carried 40,000 cubic meters of snow to the Alpine skiing courses. When rain caused further havoc ten days before the Opening Ceremony, the army packed down the slopes by hand and foot. Politically, the Games were notable because East and West Germany entered a combined team. Lydia Skoblikova won all four women’s speed skating events to become the first athlete to win four gold medals in one Winter Olympics. Klavdia Boyarskikh earned three gold medals in cross-country skiing and, on the men’s side, Eero Mäntyranta won two. Sisters Christine and Marielle Goitschel finished first and second in both the slalom and the giant slalom. Ski jumping gained a second event, and the sport of luge made its Olympic debut.