And this brought flashes of flashes for expected and somewhat unexpected “couples”. Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared smiling broadly with girlfriend Heather Milligan and son Christopher. Tyrol’s SPÖ boss, deputy governor Georg Dornauer and girlfriend Alessia Ambrosi posed “in a double pack” with former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser and wife Fiona Pacifico Griffini-Grasser.
The two dazzling couples were finally reinforced on the “Red Carpet” by Remus boss Stephan Zöchling, who “set the scene” between them. Dornauer and Grasser (formerly FPÖ, then non-party or close to the ÖVP) had previously greeted each other with a boyish handshake. The two couples formed the surprising rear guard, so to speak, and paraded together past the numerous journalists and photographers who had turned up.
Picture gallery: Flashlights at the “KitzRaceParty”
(Photo: APA/Georg Hochmuth) Bild 1/15
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The red deputy governor made headlines last summer because of his liaison with the Trentino representative of the right-wing Fratelli d’Italia. A fact that Grasser and his Fiona have known for decades. Since the ex-finance minister and former FPÖ politician became “busy” with the Buwog proceedings – he was sentenced to an invalid prison sentence in the first instance – the appearances of the glamor couple living in Kitzbühel have become very rare.
Kitz Society King Schwarzenegger had already scurried across the “black carpet” before. His girlfriend Heather didn’t take long to pose, but his son Christopher was a bit hesitant at first. Finally, he appeared “exclusively” in a couple with his famous father.
Image: APA/Georg Hochmuth
Ex-US Secretary of State John Kerry was even more media-shy than Christopher, and only appeared very briefly. He briefly stood on the edge of the red carpet, saw the cameras and quickly turned back. Finally, the Schwarzenegger buddy disappeared.
Other well-known celebrities were not afraid of too much attention. There would have been, for example: the pop singers Mathea and Leony, DJ Ötzi, the ex-Formula 1 greats Sebastian Vettel, Bernie Ecclestone, Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi as well as ex-model Barbara Meier and her husband Klemens Hallmann. Also in attendance were ex-ÖVP Economics Minister Margarete Schramböck, actor Mark Keller and numerous former ski greats: Lucas Braathen, Rainer Schönfelder, Marco Büchel, Franz Klemm, Stephan Eberharter, Fritz Strobl and Hans Knauß.
Image: APA/Georg Hochmuth
“Local hero” Hansi Hinterseer also appeared to be flash-tested and calm. The hit bard appeared with his wife Romana – shortly before his 70th birthday on February 2nd.
Also present: Runtastic founder and investor Florian Gschwandtner, Schlager star Melissa Naschenweng and presenter Sylvie Meis.
Image: APA/Georg Hochmuth
All the celebrities of the evening had one thing in common: they would be served party music by two star acts. This year, ex-boy band member Ronan Keating and the Austrian, internationally renowned electro-swing emperor Parov Stelar were on stage in the large ballroom.
