27. 11. 09. - 16:00

• more Panorama news
• RSS Feed Panorama

27. 11. 09. - 16:00

Victoria Beckham's Austria visit in doubt

By Thomas Hochwarter

Doubts are growing over a Vienna autograph session by Victoria Beckham next month after the businessman who hired her claimed her agents wanted to "get out of the contract".

Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner – who runs a shopping centre in the capital – claimed today (Fri) the former Spice Girl’s management were trying to keep her from signing autographs in the capital on 10 December.

The 77-year-old said Beckham’s agents claimed he had breached contract agreements after he told media about the planned appearance at his "Lugner City" centre. They claimed a later date had been set to announce the news.

Lugner – who made an international name for himself by inviting stars like Pamela Anderson or Dita von Teese to the Vienna Opera Ball – was left red-faced earlier this month when an announcement about the 35-year-old former Spice Girl’s visit was put up on his shopping centre’s website.

Lugner claimed the information was put online by an employee accidentally.

He admitted today there were now problems with the autograph session "because Beckham has two managements working for her – a British one and an American one. We have only spoken to one of them."

Speaking about the claims he breached contract by announcing the news too early, Lugner said: "They want to get out of the contract."

The businessman added Beckham’s agents claimed a clash of engagements meant it was impossible for Beckham to come to Vienna.

Lugner said the autograph session could be postponed by a week, but he added he could cancel it.

Lugner – who has his own reality TV show portraying his obscure daily life – caused a worldwide stir by claiming Victoria Beckham would sing during her visit to his shopping centre.

Meanwhile a Tyrolean businessman revealed he had been informed by Beckham’s agent she wanted to reschedule her visit to posh ski resort Ischgl expected to take place just days before her autograph session for Lugner.

Günther Aloys, head of wine makers "Rich Prosecco", added he was in permanent contact with Beckham’s management and said he had already paid for her to attend the gala event.

Beckham had been lined up to become the second celebrity advertising star for "Rich Prosecco" after hotel heiress Paris Hilton who advertises the canned drink version of the company’s wine.

Beckham was expected to promote the new bottled product.

Austrian Times

Related articles: Vienna focus

1. 'Take a book - give a book' in Vienna

   » Panorama 2010-02-08

   A "take a book – give a book cupboard" (Offener Bücherschrank) art installation has opened in Vienna.

2. Vienna Zoo Fasching celebrations

   » Panorama 2010-02-08

   Vienna’s Schönbrunn Zoo is to hold a special event for kids to celebrate Fasching (Karneval, or Carnival) on Sunday.

3. Baby Dalmatian pelican new Schönbrunn Zoo attraction

   » Panorama 2010-02-05

   A baby Dalmatian pelican has become Schönbrunn Zoo’s latest attraction.

4. Super Bowl party at Vienna hotel this Sunday

   » Panorama 2010-02-04

   American Football club Vienna Vikings are inviting people to their traditional Super Bowl party this Sunday.

5. E.T. ape makes a monkey of critics

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   The rare white-handed baby gibbon nicknamed E.T. by his keepers has shown how he's blossomed into a right little monkey.

6. E.T. ape makes a monkey of critics

   » Travel 2010-02-03

   The rare white-handed baby gibbon nicknamed E.T. by his keepers has shown how he's blossomed into a right little monkey.

7. State Opera boss and ORF star at war as Opera Ball approaches

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   The Opera Ball, Austria’s biggest high society event, has been overshadowed by bickering between the State Opera’s director and a popular TV presenter.

8. Hader revue at the Burgtheater on Thursday

   » Panorama 2010-02-02

   Josef Hader will perform a "best of" revue at the Burgtheater this Thursday.

9. Hader revue at the Burgtheater on Thursday

   » Travel 2010-02-02

   Josef Hader will perform a "best of" revue at the Burgtheater this Thursday.

10. 'Ben Hur' tickets warning

    » Panorama 2010-02-01

    Ticket holders for the cancelled "Ben Hur" show at Vienna’s Stadthalle this month have been told they may not get their money back after organisers went bankrupt.

Related articles: star news

1. Lugner reveals fears about a tired Lohan

   » Panorama 2010-02-09

   Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner has admitted to fears his Opera Ball guest Lindsay Lohan won’t be able to make it through tomorrow’s (Weds) autograph session as the star is due to arrive at the last minute.

2. Austrian unknown named world's best-dressed

   » Panorama 2010-02-08

   A virtually unknown Austrian has beaten supermodels, pop stars and actresses to be named best-dressed woman in the world.

3. State Opera boss and ORF star at war as Opera Ball approaches

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   The Opera Ball, Austria’s biggest high society event, has been overshadowed by bickering between the State Opera’s director and a popular TV presenter.

4. Lohan 'a nutcase', Lugner says as first problems emerge

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner has branded Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan "a nutcase" after the actress told her Opera Ball host he had to arrange a private jet to bring her to Vienna.

5. Three Austrians nominated for Oscars

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   The chances of more Austrian movie glory have grown after three Austrian artists were nominated for Academy Awards.

6. Tilda Swinton to return to Vienna for 'Blood Countess' movie

   » Panorama 2010-02-02

   Oscar winner Tilda Swinton will return to Austria this year to shoot a new movie, it has emerged.

7. Nobel Prize winner Herta Müller to read in Vienna

   » Panorama 2010-01-29

   Nobel Prize-winning author Herta Müller will read from her new novel "Atemschaukel" (Everything I Possess I Carry With Me) at Vienna’s Burgtheater, it has been announced.

8. Nobel Prize winner Herta Müller to read in Vienna

   » Travel 2010-01-29

   Nobel Prize-winning author Herta Müller will read from her new novel "Atemschaukel" (Everything I Possess I Carry With Me) at Vienna’s Burgtheater, it has been announced.

9. F1 legend Lauda fronts anti drink-drive campaign

   » Panorama 2010-01-29

   Three-time Formula One champion Niki Lauda is spearheading a controversial Austrian anti- drink-drive campaign using graphic images of injured children.

10. Katie Price to attend Opera Ball

    » Panorama 2010-01-28

    British TV starlet Katie Price will attend this year’s Opera Ball, according to reports.

Related articles: quirky Austria

1. Millionaire gives it all away

   » Panorama 2010-02-09

   Tyrolean multi-millionaire Karl Rabeder has told how he has given away his 3 million Euro fortune to help others after realising his money has never made him happy.

2. Footprints in the snow lead cops to arsonist

   » General News 2010-02-09

   An arsonist who fled after setting a factory ablaze for the second time was caught when cops followed his footprints in the snow.

3. Beer quarrel ends in axe murder

   » General News 2010-02-09

   A 20-year-old hacked his mum’s boyfriend to death with an axe in after accusing him of drinking his beer, police have said.

4. Lugner reveals fears about a tired Lohan

   » Panorama 2010-02-09

   Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner has admitted to fears his Opera Ball guest Lindsay Lohan won’t be able to make it through tomorrow’s (Weds) autograph session as the star is due to arrive at the last minute.

5. Teen saves school pal

   » General News 2010-02-08

   A quick-thinking teenager saved his pal’s life after he started choking on chewing gum.

6. Uncle killer slept after stabbing

   » General News 2010-02-08

   Police have described how a teenager stabbed his uncle and left him to bleed to death on a doorstep and then calmly went back to sleep after the killing.

7. 'Take a book - give a book' in Vienna

   » Panorama 2010-02-08

   A "take a book – give a book cupboard" (Offener Bücherschrank) art installation has opened in Vienna.

8. Austrian unknown named world's best-dressed

   » Panorama 2010-02-08

   A virtually unknown Austrian has beaten supermodels, pop stars and actresses to be named best-dressed woman in the world.

9. Second raid on Graz flea market turns up more illegal weapons

   » General News 2010-02-08

   Weapons have been found at a Graz flea market again in the second police raid on the market in a week.

10. Builder survives fourth-storey plunge

    » General News 2010-02-08

    A builder walked away with just cuts and bruises after falling more than ten metres down a chute on a building site.

Related articles: Austria & America

1. Lugner reveals fears about a tired Lohan

   » Panorama 2010-02-09

   Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner has admitted to fears his Opera Ball guest Lindsay Lohan won’t be able to make it through tomorrow’s (Weds) autograph session as the star is due to arrive at the last minute.

2. Basketball 'warrior' Frank Richards on his fight for the Knights

   » Sports 2010-02-05

   Professional basketball player Frank Richards on how he and the Güssing Knights made a perfect match.

3. Super Bowl party at Vienna hotel this Sunday

   » Panorama 2010-02-04

   American Football club Vienna Vikings are inviting people to their traditional Super Bowl party this Sunday.

4. Austrian cops praised over rape suspect arrest

   » General News 2010-02-03

   US police have praised Austria for "magnificent" police cooperation after an Afghan suspected of serial rapes in the USA was arrested last week in Salzburg province.

5. Lohan 'a nutcase', Lugner says as first problems emerge

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   Veteran Viennese playboy Richard Lugner has branded Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan "a nutcase" after the actress told her Opera Ball host he had to arrange a private jet to bring her to Vienna.

6. Three Austrians nominated for Oscars

   » Panorama 2010-02-03

   The chances of more Austrian movie glory have grown after three Austrian artists were nominated for Academy Awards.

7. Cardinal Schönborn to start US visit

   » General News 2010-01-29

   Vienna Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn is to start a six-day trip to the USA tomorrow (Sat).

8. Christ Water Technology seals contracts worth €48 mn

   » Business 2010-01-29

   Upper Austrian firm Christ Water Technology (CWT) reported new contracts worth 48 million Euros yesterday (Thurs).

9. Art Brut Gugging boss on day to day challenges and outsider art exhibit

   » Panorama 2010-01-22

   The work of self-taught African-American artists is now on display at the Art / Brut Gugging museum.

10. Lugner says daughter picked Lohan for Opera bash

    » Panorama 2010-01-21

    Richard Lugner has revealed it was his daughter who made the decision to invite scandal actress Lindsay Lohan to this year’s Opera Ball.

Bulgarian cigarette smugglers arrested
Two Bulgarians have been arrested after trying to smuggle more than 35,000 cartons of cigarettes to the UK.

ChemFreight acquires Logwin's Krems facility
Goods transport firm ChemFreight Transport, Logistik & Waggonvermietung GmbH said today (Tues) it had bought freight firm Logwin’s facility in Krems, Lower Austria, after approval of the deal by the Austrian competition authority.

Crooks behind 47 Styrian robberies arrested
Crooks behind almost 50 burglaries in Styria have been arrested, police said today (Tues).

Beer quarrel ends in axe murder
A 20-year-old hacked his mum’s boyfriend to death with an axe in after accusing him of drinking his beer, police have said.

Artec starts bankruptcy proceedings
Machine builder Artec Maschinenbau GmbH entered bankruptcy proceedings today (Tues) in Upper Austria, according to the Credit Protection Agency of 1870 (KSV) and Creditreform.

Inner tube sledge girl seriously injured
A nine-year-old is in hospital with serious injuries after she crashed into a tree as she sledged on a tyre’s inner tube.

Post to pay employees huge bonus for police work
The Austrian postal service (Post) is to pay its employees a bonus of 10,000 Euros to transfer to police work, according to today’s (Tues) edition of the newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten.

Flight bookings up
Travel agencies have reported an increase in flight bookings, according to booking platform Amadeus Austria.

A piece of heaven for the ice skaters
For anybody who likes ice skating and fancies something a bit different than the regular rink or the crowded location at the front of the Vienna City Hall might want to consider a visit to Engelmann.

Stevens extends Red Bull contract
Huub Stevens has extended his contract with champions Red Bull Salzburg, it was announced today (Tues).