We are looking forward to enjoying a happy and fun-filled celebration of football with all our visitors. Come and join the celebration too!Tension and anticipation are in air and every day that brings us closer to the UEFA 2008 you can feel it a little more! Many people in Austria are "fußballnarisch", which simply translated means "football mad". They are all counting the days and the hours until they can finally become part of the huge spectacle.

But we Alpine folk are also well known for our scepticism and so at first we say "no“ to something so that we can carefully assess the situation before letting our enthusiasm run free. This has probably something to do with our history, which was also shaped by uncritical and blind enthusiasm for apparently simple solutions and fanatical pursuit of people.

What do Austrians love?

We appreciate our comfortable motorways that take us to even the remotest valley and, nevertheless, also cherish our favourite pastime of walking for hours over hill and dale.. We are aware how well we live here in the midst of pristine nature, with the mountains and lakes. Because of this many people in Austria are committed to the protection of the environment. Separating out the rubbish and using energy economically are not merely slogans for us, but part of our self-image.

Austria is known for its good food and it is quite true that you can feast just as well in a simple country inn as you can in a gourmet restaurant in the centre of Vienna. Austrians are fastidious and place high value on good food, so chefs must make real efforts to accommodate them.

Apart from the "Sound of Music" cultural life in Austria is so vibrant and varied that nothing is spared for it. Whether traditional folk music, pop, jazz or electronic, musicians are liked everywhere. The Viennese audience is famous for its good ears and critical taste and notorious for revering someone a lot, once they have won the audience over.

Even when they tell one of the old jokes again, a good joke is never too short in Austria,. Outside of the country, Austrian revue artistes are known for their special talent in making keen observations and for their sharp tongues. Whether it is about socially explosive events, political squabbling of the day or celebrities doing something stupid, anything and everything is a source for their humour.

History

The history of Austria is not comparable with other European countries. On the one hand it is marked by big names and unique success in the arts and sciences, on the other hand Austria is a synonym for world war and mass murder. For a long time this was not spoken about, but critical minds and above all the younger generations have managed to put the important questions both forcefully and insistently. And so the general consciousness of the Austrians has been aroused about people’s personal and political past and the responsibilities that go with it.

Politics

After the election to the National Assembly on 1st October 2006 a coalition was formed with a clear majority in parliament between both people's parties - the SPÖ (Social-Democratic Party of Austria) and the ÖVP (Austrian People's Party).

President: Heinz Fischer – SPÖ (Social Democrats)

Chancellor: Alfred Gusenbauer – SPÖ (Social Democrats)
Vice Chancellor: Wilhelm Molterer – ÖVP (Austrian People's Party)

President of the National Assembly: Barbara Prammer - SPÖ (Social Democrats)