The Swiss Federal Government's Concept for a National Policy IntroductionIntroduction is an important aspect of life and, consequently, of society as well. It is a source of pleasure, intense experience and sense of solidarity, and makes an important contribution to health promotion and pre- The principles of Swiss sports policy vention. The primary contribution made by the state is to provide a favourable framework within However, the structural and economic which sport can develop. The main elements factors associated with sport are becoming to consider are welfare, stability, the education increasingly complex. The Swiss Federal system, health, safety and general infrastructure. Government (Federal Council) is therefore seeking to make a political contribution to the creation of a widespread culture of physi- cal activity – the “spirit of sport” – which, it is hoped, will also forge cohesion and The (private) associations and organiza- identity within our society. The following tions on the one hand and the (state-run) Concept was developed on behalf of the schools and universities on the other are the main players in sport in . Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil The autonomy of sport in the private Protection and Sports (DDPS) by around sphere will be safeguarded and enhanced. 150 specialists involved in sport, science, healthcare, politics, business and public Development measures initiated by the Federal Government will be based administration under the aegis of the Swiss on the principle of subsidiarity – except Federal Office of Sports (FOSPO) at where otherwise provided by the Federal Magglingen. The Federal Government is Constitution or existing laws – and the using a broad definition of sport including, overriding interests of public order, com- in particular, physical activity as a leisure petition policy and financial policy. pursuit. The need to act will not of itself gener- ate automatic state intervention in sport. The Government is aware that the develop- Measures undertaken by the Federal ment of sport, and in particular the commer- Government to promote sport as envis- cialization of some aspects, has been accom- aged by the present Concept are defined in terms of their benefit to society. panied by additional problems. Doping, violence and corruption are offshoots of The Federal Government has the task sport that must be countered by all the part- of counteracting negative phenomena ners in a joint, coordinated approach. The in sport and related areas. It may, for example, make the allocation of funding following Concept may be taken as a sign to sports institutions conditional on their of the Federal Government's commitment active opposition to problematic devel- to the positive further development of sport opments such as doping, violence and in Switzerland. corruption. In view of the major importance of sport for the individual and society, Article 68 of the Federal Constitution gives the Federal Government the following mandate: “The Confederation shall promote sport, particu- larly sport education.” The legal situation in the 1970s led to the development in 1978 of a “Swiss Sports Concept”. Since then, how- ever, there has been a fundamental change in the dimension, significance and pursuit of sport. Sport and physical activity have many beneficial effects, and Switzerland provides a comparatively good sports infra- structure, but a number of shortcomings require attention.

AA Concept Concept asas a aBasis Basis for for Action Action

Starting with the shortcomings Women are under-represented in leading positions, teaching and research. At least one third of the Swiss population engages in too little physical activity. Existing resources (open spaces, devel- oped areas, sports infrastructure) are not In education, there is a trend towards being exploited optimally. reducing school and extra-curricular sport. Problems such as sport-related accidents, Public-sector support for competitive sport doping, corruption, violence and racism and young athletes has too little impact are on the increase. and its organization is not systematic enough.

Too little attention is paid to sport If these areas are to be tackled, a new as a factor in adding economic value. approach to sports policy is needed. This Concept is a major starting point from which the Federal Government can develop a coherent sports policy that will enable it to fulfil its joint responsibility for sport and contribute to the sport of tomorrow. MainMain Objectives andand PriorityPriority ActivitiesActivities

Sport and physical activity should make a 2. Education contribution to the sustainable develop- Making use of education opportunities. ment of our society, economy and environ- ment. The first four main objectives relate The opportunities for sports education will to the social and economic dimension, while be reviewed and used more specifically. the fifth is directed at sustainable develop- Priority activities include the following: ment in general and environmental protec- The quality of sports education in schools, tion in particular. vocational colleges and in the Youth+Sport programme will be improved by suitable measures. 1. Health Better use will be made of the opportunities More physically active people. offered by sports education and organized sport to strengthen social cohesion. The proportion of physically active people in the population needs to increase continuously. Topics such as fairness, social integration, Priority activities include the following: preventive action, careful use of natural The sports activities that schools, includ- resources to promote sustainable develop- ing vocational schools, are required to ment, etc. can be pursued to good effect offer will be implemented. in the context of sports education. The Youth+Sport programme will focus on sustainable, regular sporting activity. Quality will be controlled. 3. Performance Structures and programmes intended to Promoting young athletes and competitive offer physical activity and sport for senior sport. citizens will be specifically improved (Senior-Citizen Sports Concept). The framework and conditions for promoting Innovative projects to promote sport and young athletes and competitive sport will be physical activity in the everyday context – improved. Priority activities include the fol- e.g. at work, on the way to work, at lowing: school, in human-powered mobility – will Specialized sports schools/fast-track classes be implemented. and suitable vocational training places of appropriate duration (e.g. in public admin- The types of sport and physical activity pro- istration) will be created. moted and the intensity and the level at A “vocational training course for profes- which they are pursued should be adapted sional athletes” will be set up on a pilot to individual interests, abilities, motives and basis. other personal and environmental factors. Prevention of doping and substance abuse will be improved. The importance of sporting activity goes 5. Sustainability beyond the obvious aim of physical fitness. A learning environment for social The physical and mental conditioning encour- development. aged by sport and physical activity (irrespec- tive of the level at which they are pursued) Sport can act as a testing ground for the sus- is fundamentally desirable in our society – tainable development of society as a balance and in general areas such as professional life. is sought between ecology, economy and the sociocultural dimension. Priority activities include the following: 4. Economy Instruments for evaluating the sustainability Exploiting sport as an economic factor. of sport and sporting events will be devel- oped and subsequently deployed in practice. The impact of sport as an economic factor Sporting institutions will be made more (some CHF 16 billion annually is currently aware of the concerns of sustainability, spent on sport in Switzerland) and an oppor- particularly the need for sustainable use tunity for tourism needs to be better under- of space and resources essential for life. stood and exploited appropriately. Priority activities include the following: Measures designed to promote physical activity The importance of holding major sporting and sport should be in line with the principle events and locating international sports of sustainable development. This is an objec- associations in Switzerland must be recog- tive espoused by both the International nized. Olympic Committee and the Council of Europe. A coordinated “location policy” for hold- ing major sporting events and attracting international partners will be developed. Forging new partnerships

The scale, dynamics and complexity of modern sport mean that new partnerships have to be forged. Such challenging tasks as promoting health, education, performance, the economy and sustainability in and through sport can no longer be addressed in isolation. Active partnerships must be developed through local, cantonal, national and international networks. Instead of inflexible allocation of isolated tasks, a system of “shared responsibilities” under defined leadership must be Conseq adopted, with private and public players cooperat- ing for their mutual benefit. A graphic example is the creation of “local sports networks” in every Conseq larger municipality in Switzerland. Modern tools – such as telecommunications and data processing, including the Internet – can and should be used to facilitate cooperation between all players. Consequence 1 The Federal Government recognizes the important The Federal Government wishes to increase role, and the responsibility, of the media in com- municating the values and concerns of sport and the number of people in all age groups who thereby fostering its development. It supports the are physically active. It mandates the DDPS activities of the media with an active information (under the aegis of the FOSPO at Magglingen policy. and working in close cooperation with the cantons, municipalities, SOA, Swiss Sports Committee[SSC] and other responsible federal Using resources efficiently agencies such as the Swiss Federal Office of All players must work together to make efficient, Public Health and the Swiss Federal Office of sensible and sustainable use of existing resources Social Security) to submit a national action plan. (people, finance, infrastructure, information/ Special emphasis should be placed on health knowledge). Long-term planning, exploitation of promotion, accident prevention, sustainable synergies and coordination of needs are important development and sport for young people, means of achieving this objective. The financial senior citizens and the disabled. requirements of new projects and activities must be in keeping with the existing financial plan and available resources. Consequence 2 The Federal Government wishes better use A clear need for action has been identified to be made of opportunities for education in specific areas: in sport. It mandates the DDPS (SSC), with Reinforcement of the position of volunteers support from the FOSPO, to work closely with (new forms of recognition, good, low-cost con- the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Directors tinuing education, exemplary holiday arrange- of Education to explore aspects of education, ments, examination of tax-deductible options); social integration and sustainable develop- Increasing the number of women in leading ment in and through sport and to implement positions; the findings. Provision and optimal, sustainable use of space and infrastructure for physical activity and sport (coordinated use of resources); Consequence 3 Improved mobility with public transport (organi- The Federal Government wishes to contribute zational measures, to be agreed between sport to improved promotion of young athletes and and transport authorities); to acceptance of credible competitive sport. Promotion of the Swiss Olympic Association It will, within its powers, ensure that the rec- (SOA) and the national sports associations ommended measures to promote young ath- through federal contributions, with assignment letes are implemented. It mandates the DDPS of a performance mandate and global budget; to initiate the necessary measures. Promotion of applied research in the sports sciences. uencesuences

Consequence 4 Consequence 6 The Federal Government wishes to support The Federal Government wishes to enhance sport associations and other bodies in their understanding of sport’s significance for the efforts to keep doping out of sport. It wishes social, economic and ecological sustainable to create a legal basis for imposing sanctions development of our society and to communi- on athletes’ entourage and to improve pre- cate this significance. It mandates the DDPS vention. to initiate this process. It is prepared to examine additional meas- ures proposed by sport. The allocation of development funding Consequence 7 to sports organizations will be made contin- The Federal Government wishes to contribute gent on their effective implementation of to ensuring that necessary resources are used regulations to control doping and general well and – where need can be demonstrated harmful developments in and around sport – made available. In particular, it fosters both – such as violence, racism and corruption – material and non-material support for the with suitable measures for prevention and provision of resources and the best possible elimination. sustainable use of space and infrastructure for physical activity and sport, and it backs measures to increase the proportion of Consequence 5 women in leading functions, research into The Federal Government acknowledges the sports sciences, and the creation of higher importance of major sporting events and education courses focusing on sports sciences. the presence of international sports bodies It mandates the DDPS to collaborate with the in Switzerland. In the interests of our coun- relevant government departments in making try’s sport, economy and international repu- suitable proposals to the Federal tation, it welcomes the organization of such Government. events and the presence of such bodies here. It mandates the DDPS to invite those responsible to prepare for submission to the Consequence 8 Federal Government a national concept for The Federal Government will periodically Switzerland as a location for major sporting request reports on developments in sport. An events and a base for international sports “Observatory” will be set up to identify both associations. positive and negative developments at an early stage. Any undesirable developments and irregularities must be eliminated in coop- eration with the partners. The Federal Government mandates the DDPS to take the necessary measures. Published by

The Swiss Federal Office of Sports at Magglingen

Obtainable from

Swiss Federal Office of Sports (FOSPO) Library CH-2532 Magglingen Tel. +41 32 327 63 08 [email protected]

Swiss Sports Committee (SSC) General Secretariat CH-2532 Magglingen Tel. +41 32 327 62 25 [email protected]

Swiss Olympic Association (SOA) Communication and Information P.O. Box 202 CH-3000 Berne 32 Tel. +41 31 359 71 11 [email protected]

The unabridged version of “The Swiss Federal Government’s Concept for a National Sports Policy” (German, French, Italian) can be found on the Internet at www.baspo.ch and www.swiss-sport.ch.