EUSA Insider:
Swiss University Sports
Founded: 1932
Current Headquarters: St Gallen
Website: www.swissuniversitysports.ch Published 9 October 2020
Firstly, for those who do not know, please tell us a bit about your National University Sport Association…
Swiss University Sports was founded 1932 and includes 18 local university sports organisations with a total of 236 000 student members. More than 80 sports are offered in the field of popular sports and more than 30 in the field of top-class sports. While the local sports organisations mainly organise the huge "Sport for All" programme, the federation is centrally responsible for top-level sport and the selection of national teams for the World University Championships and World University Games. In addition, the federation supports local university sports departments in planning and supplying the EUSA events. Furthermore, Swiss University Sports, together with our partners, is pushing ahead with the two most important initiatives, "Elite sports & study" together with Swiss Olympic, and the organisation of the 2021 Winter Universiade in Lucerne-Central Switzerland.
Can you describe some of the major events your NUSA has hosted in recent years, both national and international?
Every year we organise national events in the following sports:Badminton, Basketball, Fencing, Floorball, Football, Futsal, Golf, Handball, Ice Hockey, Sport Shooting, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Alpine Skiing and Nordic Skiing.
In the past, we have hosted five European Universities Championships: Basketball in 2007, Badminton in 2009, Tennis in 2011, and both Table Tennis and Golf in 2015.
On the international stage, Swiss University Sport has organised 11 FISU World University Championships, three editions of the Winter University Games as well as the Inter Universiade in Villars in 1962.
What have been some of the highlights for your NUSA in recent years?
Our highlights include many of the above-mentioned events, yet the big highlight we are all looking forward to is coming up next year: the FISU Winter World University Games 2021 in Lucerne – Central Switzerland.
How important are the EUSA events – both sporting and educational – for your NUSA?
EUSA events, both sporting competitions and educational meetings, are very important pillars for our NUSA.
"Every student should experience sport together with friends, have fun and achieve sporting goals."
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted university sport across the world. How was your NUSA able to adapt to the situation, what activities have you still managed to organise and are there any positives you have noted from these difficult circumstances?
Most national championships were cancelled due to Covid-19, but in September, a championship in Sport Shooting took place. Up until the end of the year 2020, there will be championships in Floorball, Badminton and Futsal.
In terms of positives, Swiss Olympic is the umbrella organisation of Sport in Switzerland and the National Olympic Committee. In this function, Swiss Olympic together with the Federal Office of Sports created a health concept for Covid-19 which was adapted from time to time.
Finally, what does the future of university sport in your country hold?
Sports activities are, despite or because of Covid-19, very important. Every student should experience sport together with friends, have fun and achieve sporting goals. It is a balance to study and work, and enriches everyday life.
*All photos courtesy of ASVZ/Jan Sobotkiewicz
EUSA wishes Swiss University Sports well for all their future endeavours, and looks forward to seeing their NUSA members and student-athletes at many of our events in future!