Central Switzerland hopes for a broad advertising effect thanks to major sporting event

Around 1,600 athletes aged between 17 and 28 and almost as many coaches and officials from 50 nations and 540 educational institutions take part in the biennial student sports games. With over 1,000 volunteers, the Winter Universiade is the second largest multi-sport event in winter after the Olympic Games.
 
It is almost certain that the event will be held in Central Switzerland in five years' time. There are no other candidates, said Guido Graf, Lucerne cantonal councillor and president of the "Winter Universiade Lucerne-Central Switzerland 2021" supporting association, at a media conference in Lucerne on Friday. The International University Sports Federation will officially decide on the awarding of the Games on March 5 in Brussels.
 
The venues for 2015 were in Slovakia and Spain, the next ones will be in Kazakhstan in 2017 and Russia in 2019. At the end of January/beginning of February 2021, it would be Central Switzerland's turn.
 

Motto: "Welcome home"
 

The Central Switzerland bid has the motto "Welcome home". Central Switzerland is the cradle of the Swiss Confederation and at the same time a birthplace of winter sports, said Guido Graf, President of the supporting association. The association is therefore looking forward to its role as host.
 
For the bid, the committee was able to draw on the preparatory work surrounding an earlier application. In 2013, Central Switzerland had its fingers crossed with ambitions to host the 2020 Youth Olympic Games. In the end, Swiss Olympic successfully sent Lausanne into the race.
 
The Universiade bid is backed by all six cantons of Central Switzerland and the city of Lucerne as the host city. Competitions will take place everywhere except in Nidwalden. The half-canton will be considered for supporting events on the Bürgenstock.
 
A total of eleven sports are on the preliminary competition program. The planned venues are: Andermatt/Realp UR (biathlon), Einsiedeln SZ (cross-country skiing), Engelberg OW (curling, freestyle skiing, snowboarding), Lucerne (figure skating, short track speed skating), Stoos SZ (alpine skiing), Sursee LU (women's ice hockey), Zug (men's and women's ice hockey).
 
The opening and closing ceremonies are to take place in Lucerne. The local universities are planning a scientific congress on sports topics.
 

Costs of 33.5 million francs
 

The costs for implementation are estimated at around CHF 33.5 million in total. Around half of this is to be financed by the federal government and half by the cantons. Added to this are funds from participants, sponsors and donors.
 
Urs Hunkeler, head of the bid committee, said that the Games could be held cheaply and sustainably, as little or no money would have to be invested in new infrastructure or accommodation. The athletes and guests would be accommodated in hotels in Lucerne and, in exceptional cases, in the Urseren Valley UR. Existing infrastructure will largely be used for the sports facilities and transportation, said Hunkeler. Investments are planned in Realp for additional biathlon targets, among other things.
 
The cantons of Central Switzerland and the city of Lucerne hope that hosting the event, which will be covered by up to 300 journalists around the world, will have a broad advertising effect. The event is expected to boost local businesses, the tourist regions and Central Switzerland as a cultural and university location.
 
A study by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts assumes that the CHF 33.5 million event will generate around twice as much gross added value, i.e. around CHF 70 million.
 
Ultimately, politics could also benefit, said Obwalden cantonal councillor Niklaus Bleiker, Vice President of the sponsoring association. The Winter Universiade would be a major joint project for all the cantons of Central Switzerland for the first time in a long time. This could be the impetus for further areas of cooperation, he said. (SDA)

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