ÖAMTC Air Rescue Provides Emergency Medical Helicopters for the Olympic Games in Italy

International cooperation ensures the highest safety standards at major sporting events.

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, ÖAMTC Air Rescue will provide one of three emergency medical helicopters and—together with its long-standing partner Aiut Alpin from South Tyrol—will thus make a significant contribution to emergency medical safety. The winch-equipped helicopter, stationed in Bormio, will be on standby throughout the Games; the aircraft and pilots are from Austria, while the crew is from Aiut Alpin—a powerful example of international teamwork in action in the field of air rescue.

“We consider it a privilege to be able to contribute to such a large-scale event, which places the highest demands on planning, technology, and collaboration,” explains Marco Trefanitz, managing director of ÖAMTC Air Rescue. “Together with Aiut Alpin, we pool our experience so that we can provide rapid and professional assistance in an emergency. Because this kind of collaboration is crucial when every minute counts.”

Experience with international sporting events

ÖAMTC Air Rescue brings extensive experience in providing medical support for high-profile sporting events—most recently at the Hahnenkamm Races, the World Cup opener in Sölden, and the Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. But the ÖAMTC Air Rescue emergency medical helicopters are also on standby for Formula 1 races in Austria and Hungary, as well as for rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship. This expertise was a key factor in securing the Olympic assignment. “Our mission is to ensure top-quality medical care under the most challenging conditions,” Trefanitz states. “This applies to icy slopes as well as motorsport racetracks—and, of course, to our daily operations in the context of basic medical care.”

As with previous major events, intensive preparation and clearly defined procedures are central to the Winter Olympics. The use of the helicopter enables rescues even from hard-to-reach terrain and optimally complements the existing on-site safety plan. “Saving lives is teamwork—across organizational and national boundaries,” emphasizes Trefanitz. “The fact that we are able to contribute to the athletes’ safety at the Olympics together with our partners from South Tyrol is a testament to the trust placed in the high quality of our work and the outstanding international reputation enjoyed by ÖAMTC Air Rescue.”