Sports are popular in Switzerland both as events to be watched in stadiums or on television and as a personal activity. There are some sports that are probably specific to Switzerland, but the most popular sports are well known worldwide. European football (or soccer, as North Americans call it) is by far the most popular sport in Europe and Switzerland is no exception. European football dominates sports reports on television, radio and in newspapers. There are different football leagues, two on the national level and several more on the regional level. North American style football plays no role in Switzerland. European football (soccer) is played everywhere throughout Switzerland both by large numbers of amateurs and by professional players. As large amounts of money (high wages and huge transfer sums for top scorers) dominate the scene, only the big cities have a real chance to stay in the Super League. The economic centre Zurich is present with two clubs corresponding to its number of inhabitants as well as to its economical mightiness. The financial side of the game seems to be quite risky, however: several clubs have become bankrupt in recent years, currently FC Servette Geneva has lost its fight for survival (2005-02-17). Smaller clubs consist of amateur footballers. There are some women's football clubs in Switzerland with 14,200 active (licensed) players, but they really have a hard time gaining even a fraction of the enormous attention and popularity male footballers are given by the media and the public.
In Switzerland, most of the people have a regular sports activity and one in four is an active member of a sports club. The most important all-embracing organizations for sports in Switzerland are the Federal Office of Sport, and the Swiss Olympic Committee (Swiss Olympic). Because of its varied landscape and climate, Switzerland offers a large variety of sports to its inhabitants and visitors. While winter sports are enjoyed throughout the country, football and ice hockey remain the most popular sports.
Major sports events in Switzerland include the Olympic Games, which were held two times in St. Moritz in Winter 1928 and Winter 1948, and, the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria. In Switzerland, it is very common for people to make sport and it is said that one in four people are members of one or another sports clubs. The country is run by the Federal office for Sport and the famous Swiss Olympic committee.
Ice Hockey: Switzerland has more than 1,160 ice hockey teams, which play a total of 16,000 matches each year. National League A games, in particular, are a major draw. Average match attendance rates are in excess of 6,760, one of the highest rates in Europe. The Bern Ice Skating Club (SCB) stadium has the best attendance figures in Europe, averaging 16,000 spectators for home matches. The premier ice-hockey division, the National League A, has 12 teams that play 50 matches per season. The eight best teams then compete in the best-of-seven playoffs (knock-out round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final). HC Davos is the most successful Swiss ice hockey club, followed by SCB and HC Arosa.
In 2009, ZSC Lions won the international Champions League. A handful of Swiss professionals play in the US National Hockey League (North America/Canada). In 2009, the Ice Hockey World Championship was held in Bern and Kloten. Davos hosts the annual Spengler Cup, an international tournament founded in 1923. The headquarters of the International Ice Hockey Federation is in Zurich. Grass hockey is also played in Switzerland - outside in summer, in sports halls in winter. The International Hockey Federation has its headquarters in Lausanne.
Football (Soccer): Soccer has historically been a popular sport in Switzerland. The Swiss Football Association was formed in 1895 and was a founding member of FIFA in 1904. However, despite the popularity, the national team has historically been mediocre in international competitions, with its biggest successes coming in the first half of the twentieth century.
In the 1924 Olympics, Switzerland won a silver medal in soccer, losing to Uruguay in the final. It also reached the quarter-finals in the World Cup twice, in 1934 and in 1938, with the former being the first time it ever participated in the World Cup (“Switzerland” 1). This early success continued into 1966, where the national team missed just one World Cup, in 1958. After that, however, Switzerland failed to qualify for every single major international tournament until the 1994 World Cup hosted by the USA, followed by the 1996 European Championship hosted by England. Since then, the national team has done relatively well, qualifying for all but one major tournament (Euro 2012) and going beyond the Group Stage twice (“Switzerland” 1).
Winter Sport in Switzerland: Switzerland has never had a winter like this before. Winter sports without any contests in the home of snow sports are few and far between. Natives and guests alike can look forward to exceptional sporting events with impressive and spectacular competitions.
Tennis: Switzerland has always been known for its winter sports. But, recently, these sports have almost been supplanted by tennis thanks to the world-famous Swiss champion, Roger Federer. Tennis is a widespread and very successful sport nowadays and there’ll always be a tennis court near where you’re staying.
Discover the joys of tennis in the mountains, far from urban surroundings, with stunning views of mountaintops all around you. Indoor or outdoor, summer or winter, in the mountains or on the plains, we’ve got a wide choice of tennis on offer. Plus, you can use outdoor courts for free with the Free Access Card!
Rugby: Legend has it that in 1823, during a game of school football in the town of Rugby, England, a young man named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran towards the opposition’s goal line. Two centuries later, Rugby Union has evolved into one of the world’s most popular sports, with millions of people playing, watching and enjoying the game. At the heart of rugby is a distinctive ethos that creates a special environment and culture which it has retained over the years. Not only is the game played to the laws - a distinction is made to other sports that “only” have rules - but within the spirit of the laws. Through discipline, control and mutual self-respect, a fellowship and sense of Fairplay are forged, defining rugby as the game it is. Rugby and its values build character, creates strong bonds with your club teammates and teaches its players to never give up. From the school playground to the Rugby World Cup final, Rugby Union offers a truly unique and thoroughly rewarding experience for all involved in the Game. The ethos of rugby and the commitment to its traditions of respect, integrity, sportsmanship, passion and discipline contributes to its extremely positive image in the media and amongst its fans. It is one of the fastest growing and highly regarded sports in the world.
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