The Swiss track and field team, led by the president of Swiss athletes’ federation Swiss Athletics Christoph Seiler and Peter Haas, head of the Swiss team, is composed of Kariem Hussein, champion of the 400 metres hurdles at the 2014 European Championships, Selina Büchel, a six-time Swiss champion indoors and outdoors in 800 meters, and Marie Polli, the most experienced athlete of the team who will compete in the 20-km walk.
The team compete in 11 events at the tournament from August 20 to 30 hosted at the National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest), designed by well-known Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and Chinese architect Li Xinggang. It is the first international sports event held in Beijing since the 2008 Olympics Games, attracting about 2,000 athletes from more than 207 countries and regions.
“We, diplomats and athletes share a common goal which is our concern for a better world. The social responsible program of athletes for a better world means: improving general health conditions, caring for the environment and enhance social inclusion and peace. That is basically what our foreign policies are all about and that is one of the reasons for us to meet today,” said Alain Gaschen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy in China at the reception on Tuesday afternoon. “We are here to encourage you, to support you and to cheer on you. I’d like you to feel the support of the Swiss authorities and the Swiss community here in Beijing,” he added.
Beat Freihofer, head of communications with the Swiss Athletics, expressed his satisfaction with team’s performance. “We just witnessed the brilliant performance of Mujinga Kambundji in the semi-finals of women’s 100 meters Monday evening when she set a new national record of 11.07 seconds. Three persons have entered the semi-finals of the 400-meters hurdles. Tadesse Abraham finished the marathon at the 19th place, which is very good given he suffered from a heat stroke.”
According to Swiss Athletics, there is a very small number of professional athletes in Switzerland. “Some of the athletes go to university or have a job. Some of the best athletes join different groups and train with their personal coaches. Every athlete has a plan about how many competitions they would go to in one season,” noted Freihofer, explaining the mechanism of athletes in his country. The Swiss Athletes, a member of the International Association for Athletics Federations work with the athletes and help organize trainings and trips to different championships, he explained.
Another organization for athletes is the Swiss Olympics, a national committee that supports and strengthens the member federations and Swiss sport in all its facets. The Federal Office for Sport, with its expertise for sport, is responsible for the government's promotion of gymnastics and sport, such as training, instruction, research and associated services.
