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It is said that hugging a tree relaxes and makes you happy. Researchers from Japan claim. How true! Afghan refugee Bagher Hosseini, 28, is delighted: “I am so grateful to compete against Christian Stucki. Even if I am physically inferior to him and have no chance. Chrigu is so big and so strong!” The wrestling king, who is almost two meters tall, is a man like a tree.
The 38-year-old giant from Zealand teaches young people with a refugee background the Swiss national sport in the Schwingkeller Altenberg in Bern. Football greats Stéphane Chapuisat, 54, and Lara Dickenmann, 37, as well as Olympic triathlon champion Nicola Spirig, 41, will also be present on the banks of the Aare and will introduce the 50 participants from eight countries to their sport.
“Two or three talents are already there”
All four are volunteer ambassadors for the Laureus Foundation Switzerland. This is the most important partner of sports integration. This non-profit organization brings refugees and locals together and uses sport as a means of sustainable integration. «I have not seen any future king. But there are already two or three talents. “You can see some of the participants are engaged in wrestling,” Stucki said.
After the warm-up, he explains the rules and what is involved in this sport: “Before and after every walk you shake hands with your opponent! And the winner sweeps the sawdust off the loser’s back.” Swinging has a lot to do with respect. “I want to convey this value to the athletes,” emphasizes the winner of 134 wreaths.
“Cool experience”
Every minute Stucki lays his protégés in the sawdust. The multiple vice-Swiss Taekwondo champion Bagher Hosseini was also involved for the second time. Abdullah Yaqoubi, 23, also only stands on his feet for a few seconds. Then he lands gently on his back. “It was a cool experience,” says the Afghan, who came to Switzerland in 2017 and now lives in a shared apartment in Bülach ZH. The retail specialist and deputy director of the Aldi branch in Kloten ZH has a residence permit B. Like his compatriot Bagher Hosseini, he came to Switzerland eight years ago. Nowadays he lives as a landscaper in Rümlang ZH, also in a shared apartment. Hosseini and Yaqoubi left their homeland because the Taliban invaded their homes.
When Christian Stucki says goodbye to the brave test wrestlers, he beams: “I see satisfied faces. There is nothing better than bringing joy to people who are not on the bright side of life!”
“Nicola is a role model”
Mariia Shyriaieva sweats as she comes off the athletics track. The 20-year-old Ukrainian is enthusiastic about her pacemaker Nicola Spirig: “Nicola is a role model, she inspires me! The jogging session was extremely educational.” The engineering student from Kharkiv has been living in Fehraltorf ZH with protection status S since April 2022. When Russian bombs shook her city, she left the country with the family of her god. Shyriaieva thinks the trial day is something wonderful: “We are like a big family. Here I can forget about the war for a while.”
Nicola Spirig is very satisfied after the run. The mother of three was not overtaken. “No one dared,” says the Zurich resident, laughing. On this day, refugees and local residents learned from each other. That’s why she came to Bern. “We can show the refugees that they are welcome here. On the other hand, I find it exciting and moving to hear their life stories. This makes me realize how privileged we are in Switzerland.” Sport can transcend boundaries and bring people from different backgrounds together. “Sport has enormous power as a school of life.”
Seriously impressed
Biniam Debesay gives a high five to Stéphane Chapuisat. The 35-year-old Eritrean from Asmara did not know the Swiss football legend, but is very impressed: “He plays very well and is very friendly,” says Debesay, who left his country eight years ago for political reasons. He has a residence permit B. The heating installer lives with his girlfriend in Oerlikon ZH. “Football offers a unique opportunity to integrate young people into Swiss society,” says Chappi, the former Borussia Dortmund crowd favorite.
Meanwhile, two-time Champions League winner Lara Dickenmann asks a few young people if they are already members of a football club. “Club life helps you become more involved in a community and in a place,” says Switzerland’s most successful footballer. “When the ball rolls, everyone is equal.” Your sport has its own language, there is a lot of cohesion and no one is excluded. “Football brings people together and creates new friendships.” Just like on days like these.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
