In spite of its image of a well-organised, neutral country, Switzerland has plenty of contrast!
Geographically isolated in the centre of Europe, it nevertheless has some extremely varied countryside and inhabitants.
Switzerland does not have its own language: Rétho-Romanche is spoken by only 0.6% of the population. However, rather unusually, sharing its borders with Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, Italy to the south and finally France to the west, it has three spoken languages: German, French and Italian.
Whatever language they speak, the different Swiss communities have very strong cultural ties with their linguistic neighbours.
This can be seen from a surprising diversity of literary, artistic, architectural and musical output!
From the political point of view, its regime, claimed to be direct democracy, depends on a mechanism aiming to integrate all the political forces and sensibilities in the decision-making process. This allows the citizens to influence the course of political affairs in a decisive manner.
Combined with federalism, this system constitutes an important factor of cohesion.
Multi - a word which describes Switzerland well. Whether it’s a question of traditions, languages, democracy or politics, in all its facets, it is a welcoming country, which tends towards its sense of consensus.
- Château de Chillon - © LT
Switzerland and gymnastics
Gymnastics, a tradition in Switzerland.
It is one of the early leading countries in the discipline.
Around 420,000 people are affiliated to the Swiss Gymnastics Federation (FSG) through a cantonal or regional association, which makes it the largest multi-sporting association in the country. Not less than nine disciplines are practised, such as athletics, apparatus gymnastics or aerobics. This broad range of activities lets everybody, young and not so young, satisfy their sporting aspirations, catering to the wishes of the active population and its physical activity
- © STV/FSG - Archives, Aarau
Swiss gymnastics is dynamic, innovative, a specialist in the organisation of events on a large scale, such as the Federal Gymnastics Festival, for example, which attracts about 60,000 gymnasts every five years.
At the international level, apart from being the sport of the elite, it is known to have a solid reputation thanks to its wide popular appeal. In fact, a large Swiss delegation has been participating in the World Gymnaestrada since the first one was held in 1953.
The FSG has the privilege of presenting its own national evening on two occasions. It has also hosted the event twice on its territory: in 1969 in Basle and in 1982 in Zurich. The next one, which will take place in Lausanne from 10 to 16 July 2011, will be the first one in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
We hope lots of you will come and see the incredible wealth and diversity of world gymnastics!
