Swiss Identity

Swiss on track for a world record

This content was published on Dec 14, 2009 “Those with brains take trains” (Der Kluge reist im Zuge): the Swiss Federal Railways’ motto certainly applies in Switzerland. The Swiss are avid train travellers – and users of public transport in general. Every year the International Union of Railways (UIC) publishes its statistics, and according to the latest figures, which refer to 2007, every…

Culture

Winter mischief

This content was published on Dec 14, 2009 What does Hallwil in north-western Switzerland have that other villages don’t? The answer is clear to anyone who knows the 700-resident village in Aargau’s Lake Valley. There are five unique, colourful customs that are celebrated every year in the middle of winter. In some way or another, they all have to do with Santa Claus,…

Cool heads prevail on the ski slopes

This content was published on Dec 14, 2009 An organisation responsible for accident prevention in Switzerland believes making head protection obligatory would be counterproductive. Nearly all children and youth wear helmets (97 per cent), and adults are catching up at 63 per cent. Only five years ago, the figure for them was only 16 per cent. The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention says…

Demographics

Snowboarder Cavigelli wins big air in Seoul

This content was published on Dec 13, 2009 He beat Austria’s Stefan Gimpl, who finished a close second with two strong runs coming off the 34-metre ramp, followed by Finland’s Markku Koski. Cavigelli said he was relaxed, especially after nailing the first jump but was excited to have a World Cup title. “I feel great at the moment to have won my first…

Culture

Swiss director Liechti wins best doc award

This content was published on Dec 13, 2009 The 58-year-old St Gallen native is the first Swiss to win a European Film Award. The prizes were handed out in Bochum, Germany on Saturday evening. A three-member Russian-Austrian-French jury selected Liechti’s film from a shortlist of ten European documentaries. Liechti received the Prix Arte for what the jury called “an exceptional narrative about life…

Culture

Muslim leader wants national umbrella group

This content was published on Dec 13, 2009 Hisham Maizar, president of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Switzerland, told the Sunday newspaper Le Matin Dimanche that the goal of a single governing body was still far away. Maizar also said the country’s Muslims needed to cooperate with authorities in dealing with radical clerics. The federal government has also taken notice of the…

Demographics

Cuche and Kaeslin win Swiss sport awards

This content was published on Dec 13, 2009 Cuche, the reigning world downhill champion, beat out the likes of tennis star Roger Federer and cycling time trial specialist Fabien Cancellara. Kaeslin, an artistic gymnast, is the 2009 European champion on the vault and world silver medallist. She came ahead of skier Lara Gut and Simone Niggli-Luder, a Bernese orienteering athlete. Cross country skier…

Demographics

Klitschko retains heavyweight title on points

This content was published on Dec 13, 2009 swissinfo.ch was ringside on a bitterly cold night for Saturday’s “Barney in Bern” and to see the judges’ unanimous decision after 12 rounds go in the 38-year-old Ukrainian’s favour. Klitschko kept his 30-year-old challenger from the United States against the ropes for much of the fight in the Swiss capital but landed few heavy shots…

Demographics

Swiss curlers runners-up at European tournament

This content was published on Dec 12, 2009 Ott and her team on Saturday lost 5:7 to Andrea Schöpp, a seven-time European champion, to take silver. On the men’s side, the Swiss team led by Basel skipper Markus Eggler lost 6:5 to Sweden in an extra end in the final, also taking silver The result is the first major championship medal for the…

Demographics

Hefti wins for Swiss on bobsleigh track

This content was published on Dec 12, 2009 Defending Olympic and world champions Beat Hefti and Thomas Lamparter finished first on Saturday with a two run combined time of one minute, 53.17 seconds. They also clocked the single fastest time down the track, completing their second run in 56.44 seconds. Their performance on the track at Winterberg follows a win last Saturday at…

Swiss Identity

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Swiss Identity

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Swiss on track for a world record

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Winter mischief

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Cool heads prevail on the ski slopes

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Snowboarder Cavigelli wins big air in Seoul

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Swiss director Liechti wins best doc award

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Muslim leader wants national umbrella group

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Cuche and Kaeslin win Swiss sport awards

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Klitschko retains heavyweight title on points

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Swiss curlers runners-up at European tournament

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Hefti wins for Swiss on bobsleigh track

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