Swiss Stories

Sports during lockdown © Unsplash/@single_lens_reflex

Champions are finding creative ways to keep fit and relax during lockdown

Society
Swiss sportsmen and women tell us about their frustration over tournament lockdown, downtime, training and discovering other passions.

by Bertrand Monnard

Kevin Germanier © Le Temps

Eco-couturier Kevin Germanier

Society
You won't find any jute dresses in this collection: meet designer Kevin Germanier, the Valais native taking sustainable fashion up a notch with his ultra-glamorous silhouettes made from textile cast-offs.
Andri Ragettli

Andri Ragettli: working out under lockdown

Society
Andri Ragettli, the Swiss freestyle skiing phenomenon, is almost more famous for his crazy parkour workout videos than for his World Cup wins. Now he has devised a 'stay at home' parkour workout for people under lockdown.
© Paolo De Caro ("Junge Macherinnen", Édition De Caro)

Apps, wine and literature – the young generation of Swiss women creators

Society
They are young, female and are making a name for themselves as the vision behind some innovative new projects and start-ups. More and more young women in Switzerland are breaking out of traditional roles and rejecting the limitations imposed by existing structures to give shape to their ideas.
Slalom

A clear run for Swiss slalom

Society
After years on the sidelines, the slalom is finally reclaiming the spotlight in Swiss competitive skiing – thanks largely to the success of two rising stars, Ramon Zenhäusern and Daniel Yule. A profile of two extraordinary champions making their mark both on and off the piste.

by Bertrand Monnard

Photo

Drug checking – the Swiss response to the risks of drug use

Society
People have a fundamental responsibility for their own lifestyle and behaviour. The Swiss National Strategy on Addiction is based on this principle. So is the innovative Swiss approach known as 'drug checking'. Its aim is to promote health literacy among drug users by providing them with information on the composition of the drug(s) they take and increasing their awareness of the risks and consequences of their consumption of illegal substances. Although not all drug use can be prevented and many people choose to consume drugs despite the risks, Swiss drug-checking services strive to minimise risks and prevent harmful consequences such as overdosing.

by Infodrog - Swiss Office for the Coordination of Addiction Facilities

woman running

Endurance sports: Swiss women at the top

Society
Swiss women are at the top of their disciplines in triathlon, ski mountaineering, trail running, orienteering and mountain biking, but they're hardly household names. So what keeps them going – and winning – these toughest of athletes?