Chiara Zgraggen02.07.2024The Swiss Armed Forces have been deliberately cultivating the sporting skills of talented recruits for 20 years. Despite encountering initial opposition, the programme has achieved impressive results, including Olympic medals and World Cup winners.
Simon Engel25.06.2024Public health, educational and military lobbies have all influenced sporting pursuits since at least the 19th century. The state-sponsored sport promotion programme ‘Jugend+Sport’ and its preceding initiatives testify to that.
Mämä Sykora06.06.2024100 years ago, the Swiss national team celebrated the greatest triumph in its history. It was almost prevented - due to a lack of faith and a great deal of stinginess.
Mämä Sykora02.05.2024In the early days, Swiss football had to contend with some unusual challenges. Stakes in the middle of the pitch, a lack of opponents and mockery and derision in the daily press. A look back at the difficult start of the sport on grass.
Michael Jucker21.03.2024The word sport conjures up images of modern sporting pursuits, such as football, cycling, rugby and skiing. But what about during the fondly remembered Middle Ages? Did sport exist back then and, if so, how did it compare to the modern competitions held on the territory now known as Switzerland?
Simon Engel15.02.2024Sport always reflects gender roles and images. Ice hockey being a rather extreme example. This is largely due to the way in which the sport has evolved.
Manda Beck / Michael Jucker20.12.2023What do pineapples have to do with the sport of tennis? Enough for one to sit atop the world-famous Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles trophy. The cup, which has been presented to each successive winner of the Championships since 1887, is adorned with a small pineapple at its peak. This is connected with the colonial history of sport.
Chiara Zgraggen01.09.2023Schwingen, the traditional, homegrown style of wrestling, is as much a part of Switzerland as chocolate and watches. At least, as long as it’s men who are donning the breeches. But when it comes to women’s involvement in the sport, it’s a whole different story ‒ one that has caused quite a few scandals.
