Sport in Switzerland will benefit sustainably from running for the Olympics and holding the 2022 Winter Olympics, as top-class sport serves as an engine for popular, young and disabled sport and its financing. Sports experts and coaches expressed this opinion at a media conference in Davos. Games in their own country regularly lead to significant improvements in the elite's performance and are therefore a motivation boost for young people to participate in sports.
Even running for the Olympics, especially the hosting of games, would have long-term, very positive effects on all sport in Switzerland. Sports associations and experts, coaches and athletes share this unanimous opinion. Just one candidacy would trigger a series of concrete measures by the Federal Office of Sport (BASPO) and the Grisons Sustainability, Innovation and Legacy Process (NIV) in 2022. In addition to top-level sport, the beneficiaries would also be amateur, junior and disabled sports.
The publicity surrounding a candidacy or an event would attract more attention to sport in Switzerland in general in the media and in everyday life. Companies that have no involvement in sports today would turn to sport and invest in it, including through sponsorship. At a media conference in Davos on Wednesday, four experts and coaches underlined the importance of running for the Olympics for Swiss sport and thus for young people in Switzerland.
“The Olympic Games create role models for young people,” Olympic snowboard champion Gian Simmen simply summarized. 15 years after his victory in the Nagano halfpipe, the Grisons marketing specialist has remained associated with snowboarding as a trainer. “I personally met dozens, if not hundreds of recreational, junior or top athletes who were immediately motivated to snowboard as children by my victory. If we were given the chance to host games in our own country, this motivational effect would be all the greater. We should definitely try that.”
“Sport is a school of life”
Gian Gilli, Director of Grisons 2022 and Sports Director of Swiss Olympic, described the so-called “Host Nation Effect”. “The history of the Games impressively shows that sport and its development in the host countries can benefit massively from the Olympic Games.” Based on the current accounts of various host countries, Gilli showed how they were able to improve. “Popular, school and disabled sports also benefit from top-class sport.
Because the number of members of sports clubs and the number of participants in popular sports events are also growing and maintaining the higher level for many years,” emphasized Gilli. “Everyone can benefit. The power of the Olympic project enables cross-sport rapprochement and networking among athletes, associations, organizers, sponsors, public and private institutions and media.”
Urs Winkler, Rector of the Davos Sports High School, confirmed that the Olympic Games also make a big difference at the grassroots and in the breadth of sport. “Swiss grassroots sport is financed primarily through top-class sport, which is why it will benefit greatly from the Olympic Games in Switzerland in the long term.” Winkler emphasized that sport is not just a leisure activity or a luxury for rich countries. “In sport, young people learn to focus on the best performance and values such as fairness, equality, friendship and respect.”
“Sport is a school of life,” confirmed Arno Del Curto as well. Hundreds of young up-and-coming players went through the school run by the long-time head coach of the Davos hockey club. “Anyone who fights their way up to their idols in sports can then also benefit in life. The Olympic Games in Switzerland will give children and young people a big motivation boost to get involved in sports and fight for their success.”
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