Zurich 2014 • European Athletics Championships

The first time the House of Switzerland appeared in Switzerland was at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, transforming the new Sechseläuten-Platz into an attractive and dynamic meeting point for the duration of the championships.

The showcase for Switzerland was opened on 9 August by the Swiss delegation to the championships and representatives from the federal government, the cantonal authorities and the City of Zurich. It provided tens of thousands of visitors – many of them from abroad – with the opportunity to discover many attractive aspects of Switzerland. At the close of the championships on 17 August a public reception was held in front of the House of Switzerland for the Swiss athletes and their fans.

The appearance of the House of Switzerland in the centre of Zurich was made possible thanks to close cooperation between the championship organisers and Presence Switzerland, as well as various partners of the Swiss Confederation, the Canton of Zurich and City of Zurich, and also private business. The Swiss Armed Forces, the Federal Office of Sport, the Federal Office of Culture, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, and the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad all participated in organising the House of Switzerland at the 2014 European Athletics Championships in Zurich, under the leadership of Presence Switzerland. The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) provided an exciting insight backstage at the former television studios in Sochi.