Amherd supports the Winter Games: will the Swiss Olympic dream come true this time?

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Switzerland should try again. At Swiss Olympic, say the national Olympic Committee, preparations are being made for a renewed candidacy for the Olympic Winter Games. And they have gained a prominent advocate: Viola Amherd (61). The sports minister is convinced that the Olympic Games can give a lasting boost to society and the economy, her spokesperson Renato Kalbermatten confirmed in a message from the Tamedia newspapers on Friday.

It would be Switzerland’s 16th attempt – so far 13 have failed, seven of them in Switzerland: because voters said no or no one wanted to give a shortage guarantee.

Until now it has mostly been too expensive

Cost is always the reason for Switzerland’s failed Olympic dreams. The last serious attempt “Graubünden 2022” is estimated to have cost about four billion francs, of which the federal government would have to pay a billion. But that was too much: first for the finance committee of the National Council, which opposed it, and then for the citizens of Graubünden, who rejected the candidacy on March 3, 2013.

Therefore, on the 14th attempt, everything should be different. According to the idea of ​​the winter sports associations, the games should take place throughout the country instead of just in one region. So bobsleigh races in St. Moritz, men’s downhill on the Lauberhorn, women’s Super-G in Valais, ski jumping in Engelberg and ice hockey in the stadiums in Bern, Zurich or Rapperswil SG.

Lower costs through decentralization

As a result, hardly any new sports facilities need to be built, which can save costs. However, Swiss Olympic does not want to reveal how much cheaper such games would be. “Nothing can be said with certainty about the possible costs,” said spokesman Fabio Gramegna. Cost is the focus of the current feasibility study, which will run until the fall. “Only then will we decide whether to continue the current project for a possible event in 2030 or later.”

That must be completely in line with politics. Mitte group leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (45) writes on Twitter: “Now the International Olympic Committee has to show its colors: either there are games in existing infrastructures, or at some point there will be no more games. Actually simple.”

The Zurich FDP state councilor Ruedi Noser (62) pleads with the SDA news agency for a cost-effective event. And it is widely believed that Amherd is forging an alliance that can secure a majority, so that the 16th attempt becomes the third successful one.

Federal government expects “huge deficits”

One person in particular will have to trap Amherd: Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (59), who has been warning for months about red numbers and black holes in the financial plan. The woman from St. Gallen is already working hard on austerity programs. That raises the question of whether the Olympic Games are really within reach.

SP financial politician Sarah Wyss (34) says that such major events are certainly not easy given the “huge deficits” that the federal government expects. However, she believes that such an opportunity, which the Winter Games provide, should not fail because of money. And yes, several cantons should participate. “But what doesn’t work: talking about money for the Olympic Games and at the same time cutting the widow’s pension. Here citizens should lend a hand and reform the debt brake.”

But the bourgeoisie of the left will not make it easy for him. Hot financial discussions are to be expected again. For the eighth time.

Source:Blick