House of Switzerland

The House of Switzerland is the official Swiss guest-house, which is built each occasion of the Olympic Games, set up and operated for the duration of the Games. It is the official meeting place of the Swiss Olympic team as well as the venue for the official medal ceremonies of the Swiss medalist.

Formation and development

The tradition of Swiss guest house goes back to the year 1998, when the House of Switzerland was first operated at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan by the Swiss Olympic Association. The idea was to create a meeting place for the Swiss Olympic team as well as the official Swiss delegations, but also for visitors arriving from Switzerland fans. Over time, the House of Switzerland developed into a platform for the Swiss National Communication.

Project management, partners and concept

The House of Switzerland is since the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens under the project management of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA). Within the EDA is responsible Presence Switzerland for the planning, implementation and application of the concept for the House of Switzerland.

The House of Switzerland is based on a public-private partnership concept.

Use

In addition to sports fans primarily use the Swiss Confederation, and other partners and sponsors, including the Swiss Olympic Association and the SRG SSR, the House of Switzerland as a meeting place for athletes and journalists, as well as a networking platform for decision makers from sport, politics and business. At the same time the House of Switzerland is a marketing and event platform for the Swiss economy, tourism, culture and science location. An appropriate framework program is part of the concept.

Restaurant service

Central to the concept is the operation of a restaurant with specialties from Switzerland, in combination with specialties from the host country. For this reason, an existing restaurant or a building is because even usually rented with the appropriate infrastructure and converted for the operation of the House of Switzerland. If the sporting venues and the official venue far apart, so two Houses of Switzerland are established. This was the first time at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, the case where in addition to Turin and Sestriere in a House of Switzerland was operated.

The House of Switzerland is one of the few nations homes in the Olympic Games, which is publicly available.