2011 SU Update: Swiss celebrate 720th National Day

Consul General Hunn, Deputy Mayor Shenzhen, FISU President-Elect Gallien, HoD Mörgeli, Mark Obama Ndesandjo

SHENZHEN – Today, August 14^th, the Swiss delegation had a reason to throw party. Not because they dominated the men’s cycling road race podium yesterday, but because they celebrated their 720^th National Day.

Traditionally, this takes place during the Universiade and it is the Swiss Ambassador or Consul General of the Universiade host city who invites. Thus, the Consul General of Switzerland in Guangzhou Mr. Hunn together with Mr. Thoma Mörgeli, Head of the Swiss Unversiade delegation welcomed the HoDs of other nations with the whole Swiss athletes delegation in attendance. Besides the Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen, and FISU President-Elect Claude-Louis Gallien, special guest of the evening was Mr. Mark Obama Ndesandjo, Special Olympics Image Ambassador inChina.

A charity raffle with valuable prizes, organized by the SwissCham Guangzhou chapter benefitted the Special Olympics.

Swiss HoD Thomas MörgeliThe event was staged in the Shenzhen Crowne Plaza Hotel, on the outside pool deck, but the look and feel was Swiss all the way. ‘We’re proud of our country, but people expect us to bring the traditional Swiss props like the alpenhorn, HoD Thomas Mörgeli admitted. The Chef de Mission considers winning early a gold and silver in men’s cycling is a good omen for the rest of the Universiade. ‘Indeed, it’s a real boost for the other athletes to excel’, the Swiss Skipper said. ‘Unfortunately today, our two best fencers and medal hopefuls were eliminated. But that’s sport. You loose some and you win some. Nevertheless, the atmosphere within the delegation is pretty good. ‘Smart, Strong, Swiss’ is our slogan and we put a lot of energy and effort to create a great team spirit for TeamSwitzerland.’

The Swiss are in Shenzhen with their biggest delegation in FISU history: 136 persons, i.e. 93 athletes and 43 officials.

C. Pierre, FISU Press Officer

The Swiss Media Officer and his assistant