Inspiring the Swiss through Olympic Values and Sport

Candidate for the Presidency of Swiss Olympic

About

I am 48 years old, live in Jouxtens-Mézery with my wife and our four children. I speak three national languages and have been a member of the PLR party in the Vaud Cantonal Parliament since 2017. Currently, I am the General Director of the Association Touristique Porte des Alpes. Previously, I was a professional judoka and an Olympic medalist.

My career as an international athlete, federation leader, and vice-president of an international federation has allowed me to develop a strategic vision for the development of sport in Switzerland. I wish to bring this experience and vision to Swiss Olympic.

My project aligns with the Swiss Olympic strategy published in 2021. Additionally, I propose launching and strengthening new priorities and essential measures to build a better-recognized, supported, and valued Swiss and Olympic sport as one of the nation’s driving forces and symbols, and an essential cement for our society.

FOR A UNITED AND PERFORMING SPORTS FAMILY!

My Program

Let’s all come together and be united to utilize the tremendous potential of sport as a source of inspiration, social connection, and cohesion for Switzerland.

1.Strengthen 360° Support to Federations

Challenges and Objectives

Support the governance, administration, and operations of federations from the national headquarters to the club level.
Ensure the unity and solidarity of the sports movement in all its components: amateur and professional sports, sport for all and popular sports, and high-level sports.

Key Actions

Pool, share, and capitalize on knowledge and know-how between federations.
Strengthen the economic models and professionalization of federations (national/cantonal/municipal subsidies, sponsorship, and patronage).

2.Promote Hosting and Success of Major Events with a Focus on Sustainability

Challenges and Objectives

Host major sporting events to showcase Switzerland internationally.
Use major sporting events as a sporting, media, economic, social, and environmental lever for the promotion and development of sport.

Key Actions

Project Switzerland 2038 for hosting and succeeding in the Winter Olympics in Switzerland and a project to host the European Multisport Championships in 2030.
Share “best practices” and the experiences acquired in terms of event management “made in Swiss”.

3.Represent, Defend, and Promote Swiss Sport from Local to International Levels

Challenges and Objectives

Promote Swiss sport and Switzerland internationally.
Support the careers of leaders internationally.

Key Actions

Better assert the strategy and key role of Switzerland in international sport with the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), international federations, and European sports federations.
Find new partnerships within the Confederation with all state secretariats (health, economy, tourism, innovation, etc.) to better utilize the potential of sport. Increase the engagement and resources of the cantons in and through sport.

4.Support, Protect, and Better Recognize Elite Athletes

Challenges and Objectives

Support the overall success of elite athletes around their triple life project: sports, education/retraining, family/personal.
Ensure minimum financial and social coverage to avoid situations of precarity and vulnerability during and after their career.
Fight for responsible and integral sports throughout the elite athlete’s career.
Value the place and role of elite athletes in society and for the Swiss nation.

Key Actions

Each elite athlete covered by social protection.
Facilitated integration into studies and companies.

5.Strengthen Swiss Olympic's Governance, Economic, Professionalization, and Social Responsibility Capacities

Challenges and Objectives

Increase support for leaders through enhanced administrative, financial, and legal professionalization.
Apply best governance practices.
Support gender equality in the governance and leadership of Swiss sport.

Key Actions

Formalize a collective and shared human resources policy to ensure the best integration and fulfillment of personnel (leaders, employees, volunteers).
Promote thinking by sports families to pool equipment, coaching, events, and experiences.

The Swiss Judo and Ju-Jitsu Federation, with the support of 9 other federations, recommends Sergei Aschwanden as a candidate for the presidency of Swiss Olympic.

The current member of the Swiss Olympic committee and former Olympic medalist has demonstrated his competence and motivation for the development of Swiss sport for many years.

His abilities in national and international sports, his knowledge of economics and politics, as well as his remarkable personality, make him the ideal candidate to tackle the challenges of Swiss sport in the coming years.

Press Release in German

Press Release in French

Press Release in Italian