Austrian Open Championships – a successful tournament story comes to an end!

After long, intensive deliberations, those responsible for the WTSV organization team, led by President Hermann Götz and Vice President Wolfgang Eliasch, had to inform the WTSV Executive Committee with a heavy heart that they could no longer continue with the Austrian Open Championships.

Allow us to look back on a 26-year tournament history:

In 1994 the 1st AOC was held in the Wiener Stadthalle. The premiere was successful, the atmosphere and the conditions for the athletes, as well as the hospitality for officials and guests, advertised themselves and quickly brought the AOC their good reputation at home and abroad. The number of participating couples increased from year to year. The enthusiasm and commitment of all officials was enormous and, despite growing difficulties on the part of the Stadthalle, always unbroken. Due to the constantly increasing costs over the years and increased requirements, also on the part of the world association, the AOC could hardly be financed and could only be kept alive through private initiative.

After 19 years, the organizers dared to start again, the venue was moved to Schwechat for the 20th AOC. The Multiversum, a hall that actually left nothing to be desired for the organizational team and also offered athletes a special flair, was soon able to dispel the resentment of no longer being in the center of Vienna. The conditions were excellent – two halls, a perfectly located VIP room, spacious cloakrooms and a thankful strong support from the city of Schwechat. All this also put the Austrian Open on a solid financial basis.

It could have been so beautiful!!

After four years, the 2nd hall was suddenly no longer available, which meant a major disruption to the event. Every event lives from and is financed by the number of participants and spectators. The Austrian Open now faced a drop to almost half.

Ultimately, the city of Schwechat decided to sell the entire multiverse. For economic reasons, the new owners undertook a restructuring of the hall. For the organisers, this meant:

  • The technology was outsourced, higher costs due to additional external companies
  • Higher rents with partly non-binding information
  • No long-term date guarantee by the new operator
  • Loss of support from the city of Schwechat

Other difficulties to be mentioned are:

  • Increasing demands from the world association
  • Rising TV production costs
  • Increasing difficulty in recruiting volunteers and thus increased need for paid services

The significantly more difficult framework conditions, the pandemic and the three-year standstill have increased the organizational and financial risk of those primarily responsible to an extent that is no longer justifiable.

Unfortunately, 26 successful years of the Austrian Open Championships have become history.

Thank you very much

  • with the participating couples and world champions for many unforgettable emotional moments
  • from our viewers for their loyalty over many years
  • from all officials at home and abroad for the appreciation
  • thanks to all volunteers for their tireless efforts
  • to the city of Schwechat for the hospitality and support
  • with the sponsors
  • at ÖTSV for international promotion and financial support

and last but not least to the WTSV Board of Directors for the many years of trust!

The team of the Austrian Open Championships

AOC 2021 – CANCELLATION

Dear athletes,

unfortunately the Austrian Open Championships 2021 have to be cancelled. As the current situation and the increasing number of infections show us, further restrictions are to be expected in the coming weeks and months. All these unforeseen circumstances make the calculation and the probability of reducing the financial risk to a viable minimum almost impossible. The effects of COVID-related restrictions on the number of participants, audience numbers and the associated higher costs due to additional security requirements have forced the organizers with a heavy heart to make a decision at this point in time. From now on, cancellation costs would have come into play that cannot be covered by the organizing associations and private persons.

We hope for a better future and wish everyone to stay healthy!

CENCELLED DUE TO COVID19-PANDEMIE

Austrian Open Championships, November 20th – 22nd, 2020, CANCELLED!

The Austrian Open Championships, traditional annual event in Multiversum, Schwechat, unfortunately has to be cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020.

The Austrian government has meanwhile permitted the organization of events. To ensure the health and safety of both active participants and spectators, there is a comprehensive catalog of measures for organizers. At an event of the size of the Austrian Open, we see no way to do justice to these measures.

For the organizers it was a difficult decision. However, we are fully aware of the responsibility to ensure the safety and health of everyone involved. Therefore, the step to cancel was unfortunately necessary.

However, we are now using the time to plan the event in 2021, to take the catalog of measures into account and to be well prepared.

We are therefore looking forward to seeing you again from November 19th-21st, 2021 at the Austrian Open 2021 in Vienna-Schwechat.

The AOC organizing team

Tickets

Tickets

Tickets available ON THE COMPETITION DAY at the box office in Multiversum/Schwechat, Möhringgasse 2-4, 2320 Schwechat.(16., 17. And 18.11.) Cash only!
Online ticket order closed.

Friday

November 16th, 2018
WDSF World Open Latin
WDSF Open Youth Standard
WDSF Open Junior I Standard
WDSF Open Junior II Latin
WDSF Open Juveniles I + II Standard
WDSF Open Senior III Standard

Saturday

November 17th, 2018
2018 WDSF World DanceSport Championship Standard
WDSF Open Youth Latin
WDSF Open Junior II Standard
WDSF Open Junior I Latin
WDSF Open Juvenile I + II Latin

Sunday

November 18th, 2018
WDSF World Open Standard
WDSF Open Senior I Standard
WDSF Open Senior II Standard
WDSF Rising Star Latin
AOC 52nd Viennes Waltz Championship – Open to the World

Goffredo / Matus new World Champions Latin

3.000 Fans were celebrating the new World Champions Goffredo/Matus
On Friday, November 20th, the Austrian Open Championships 2015 were officially opened. 2.000 couples from 55 nations were nominated for the 19 competitions and two World Championships. The AOC 2015 started with the Vienna Waltz competition in which the austrian couple Vasily Kirin and Ekaterina Prozorova danced to gold. In front of more then 3.000 enthusiastic fans, Gabriel Goffredo and Anna Matus were celebrating after they have reached gold at the WDSF World Championship Latin on Saturday. Vadim Garbuzov/Kathrin Menzinger closed the Austrian Open Championships with their phenomenal performance to „Fifty Shades of Grey“. After gold at the World Championship Showdance Latin, they are now also World Champion Showdance Standard.

It was one of the most successful finals ever seen. The former World Champions Nino Langella/Khrystyna Moshenksa were not dancing together any more as well as some other successful couples. Experts as well as officials and fans were not able to say who will be the favourite for the World Championship Latin.

In the final the moldavian couple Gabriel Goffredo/Anna Matus performed best and won Gold for the very first time. Anna Matus: „It was a tough championship. We were able to get better and better during the competition. We stil can´t believe that we are World Champion.“

In the WDSF World Open Standard competition Simone Segatori/Annette Sudol won another title in Austria after the World Championship 2014. The austrian couple Vasily Kirin/ Ekaterina Prozorova reached rank three, after their victory in the Vienna Waltz competition on Friday.

On the last day of the Austrian Open Championships, the host celebrated two gold medals. Hofer/Westermayer danced to gold at the WDSF Rising Star Standard competition. The highlight of the last day was the WDSF World Championship PD Showdance Standard. With their performance to „Fifty Shades of Grey“ Vadim Garbuzov and Kathrin Menzinger got 42 points in total and were ranked number 1. They are now World Champions Showdance Latin and Standard.

22nd Austrian Open Championships
WDSF World Championship Latin
WDSF PD World Championship Showdance Standard
20th to 22nd November 2015 at the Multiversum Schwechat