Innsbruck, host city to the Winter Olympic Games back in 1964 and 1976, is promoting itself as the place to go for people to actually try the sports they’re seeing on TV in the current Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

The ski centres surrounding the capital of the Tirol offer not only skiing and ice skating but also bobsled, luge, biathlon and even, in the nearby HoheSalve region, ski jumping for all!

The Igls Bobsleigh track which was used during the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976 is available for public descents. Guest bobsleighs holds five people and a trained pilot. The minimum age limit is 12 years and runs costs 30 Euros per person, with runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the winter season 2009-10. (www.olympiaworld.at)

You can even receive training in ski jumping at a hill near Hopfgarten in the SkiWelt. Lessons cost €50 per person for three hours.

A new biathlon centre opened in Seefeld this winter. This exciting winter sport, which combines cross country skiing and shooting, sees skiers race with rifles strapped to their backs stopping at a target range every few kilometres ready to shoot their targets.

You can try biathlon on Fridays, with two hour lessons from noon to 2pm costing €50 per person if you have your own cross country ski equipment, or €63 if you require rental gear (www.xc-academy.com).