Paul Aste
Encyclopedia
Paul Aste (born December 5, 1916) was an Austria
n bobsledder and luge
r who competed during the 1950s and the 1960s. He also took the Olympic Oath
for athletes at the 1964 Winter Olympics
in Innsbruck
.
He was born in Matrei in Osttirol
.
, 1953
, 1955
; Men's doubles: 1952
, 1955) and two silvers (Men's singles: 1952, Men's doubles: 1953).
during the 1950s and 1960s. He earned two medals in the two-man event at the FIBT World Championships
with a silver in 1955
and a bronze in 1958
. Aste competed in three Winter Olympics for Austria
in bobsled, earning his best finish of fifth in the four-man event at Oslo
in 1952
(Luge
would not become a Winter Olympic sport until the 1964 games
in Innsbruck.).
designer, creating a separate 13-turn bobsleigh
and an 18-turn luge
course used for each event. Aste's second role was taking the Olympic Oath for athletes during the opening ceremonies of the games. Finally, Aste finished seventh in the four-man event on the course he designed and constructed the previous year.
Aste created some controversy with his recitation of the Olympic oath. Where the traditional oath ended "for the glory of the sports and the honor of our countries", he replaced the word "countries" with "teams". This change was deliberate and reflected Aste's belief that nationalism
had negatively affected the Games. His one word substitution sparked significant debate, including a direct rebuff from a representative of the Soviet Union
.
in Igls, Austria (located southeast of Innsbruck), there were a total of 20 injuries on the track during those championships. Because this event was also part of the Olympic test competition, it would lead to design changes to make the track safer prior to the 1964 games.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n bobsledder and luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
r who competed during the 1950s and the 1960s. He also took the Olympic Oath
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
for athletes at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
.
He was born in Matrei in Osttirol
Matrei in Osttirol
Matrei in Osttirol is a municipality in the district of Lienz in Tyrol in Austria.-Location:-External links:...
.
Luge career
As a luger, Aste won seven medals in the European luge championships with five golds (Men's singles: 1951FIL European Luge Championships 1951
The FIL European Luge Championships 1951 took place in Igls, Austria under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing under their "Section de Luge", a trend that would continue until the International Luge Federation was formed in 1957...
, 1953
FIL European Luge Championships 1953
The FIL European Luge Championships 1953 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing under their "Section de Luge", a trend that would continue until the International Luge Federation was formed in 1957...
, 1955
FIL European Luge Championships 1955
The FIL European Luge Championships 1955 took place in Hahnenklee, West Germany under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing under their "Section de Luge", a trend that would continue until the International Luge Federation was formed in 1957.-Men's...
; Men's doubles: 1952
FIL European Luge Championships 1952
The FIL European Luge Championships 1952 took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing under their "Section de Luge", a trend that would continue until the International Luge Federation was formed in 1957...
, 1955) and two silvers (Men's singles: 1952, Men's doubles: 1953).
Bobsleigh career
Aste also competed in bobsleighBobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
during the 1950s and 1960s. He earned two medals in the two-man event at the FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
with a silver in 1955
FIBT World Championships 1955
The FIBT World Championships 1955 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland for the record seventh time. The Swiss city had hosted the event previously in 1931 , 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 , and 1947....
and a bronze in 1958
FIBT World Championships 1958
The FIBT World Championships 1958 took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, West Germany for the fourth time. The West German city had hosted the event previously in 1934 , 1938 , and 1953.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:...
. Aste competed in three Winter Olympics for Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in bobsled, earning his best finish of fifth in the four-man event at Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1952
1952 Winter Olympics
The 1952 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VI Olympic Winter Games, took place in Oslo, Norway, from 14 to 25 February 1952. Discussions about Oslo hosting the Winter Olympic Games began as early as 1935; the city wanted to host the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible...
(Luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
would not become a Winter Olympic sport until the 1964 games
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
in Innsbruck.).
Role at the 1964 Winter Olympics
At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Aste played three roles. His first was as a bobsleigh and luge courseIgls bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Olympic Sliding Centre Innsburck is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Igls, Austria . The most recent version of the track was completed in 1975 and is the first permanent, combination artificially refrigerated bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track, serving as a model for other...
designer, creating a separate 13-turn bobsleigh
Bobsleigh at the 1964 Winter Olympics
-Two-man:A turn at the St. Moritz, Switzerland course is named in honor of Nash and Dixon, called the Nash-Dixon corner.-Four-man:The Canadian four-man bobsleigh team of Kirby, Anakin, and the Emery brothers upset the heavily favored Austrians.-Medal table:...
and an 18-turn luge
Luge at the 1964 Winter Olympics
-Men's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's singles:-Medal table:-References:***...
course used for each event. Aste's second role was taking the Olympic Oath for athletes during the opening ceremonies of the games. Finally, Aste finished seventh in the four-man event on the course he designed and constructed the previous year.
Aste created some controversy with his recitation of the Olympic oath. Where the traditional oath ended "for the glory of the sports and the honor of our countries", he replaced the word "countries" with "teams". This change was deliberate and reflected Aste's belief that nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
had negatively affected the Games. His one word substitution sparked significant debate, including a direct rebuff from a representative of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Bobsleigh track concern
When the bobsleigh track was completed in time for the 1963 FIBT World ChampionshipsFIBT World Championships 1963
The FIBT World Championships 1963 took place in Igls, Austria for the second time after hosting the event previously in 1935 . This event would serve as the test for the Winter Olympics that would take place the following year in neighboring Innsbruck....
in Igls, Austria (located southeast of Innsbruck), there were a total of 20 injuries on the track during those championships. Because this event was also part of the Olympic test competition, it would lead to design changes to make the track safer prior to the 1964 games.