Top sports and university studies are better placed under one roof as Swiss Olympic and swissuniversities signed a declaration to assist elite athletes looking to combine studies and sport
Swiss Olympic President Jürg Stahl (right) and swissuniversities President Michael O. Hengartner are joined by top Swiss university athletes Petra Klingler and Lucas Tramer during signing. Image: Manuel Lopez / PPR
BERN, SWITZERLAND – Helping high-level Swiss athletes become stars both in the competition arena and in the classroom just became a more viable option. Swiss Olympic and swissuniversities signed a joint declaration allowing elite sportspersons to pursue university degrees while studying part-time.
On Monday, Swiss Olympic President Jürg Stahl and Michael O. Hengartner, the President of swissuniversities and University of Zürich, signed the decree in Switzerland’s capital city.
Specifically, the declaration says that individual universities are to develop models for part-time studies in as many course areas as possible. In addition, athletes are to be offered removal courses for semester examinations.
37 percent of Swiss Olympians study at university
Petra Klingler (right) is a world champion sport climber while Lucas Tramèr won gold in rowing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the men’s lightweight four boat During the signing, the Swiss University Sports Federation said that 37 percent of the Swiss team at the 2012 and 2014 Olympic Games were university students. At the same time, both Mr. Stahl and Dr. Hengartner indicated that for more top athletes to achieve world-class performances while also studying would require the framework between sport and school to be further improved. Monday’s announcement was a strong step in that direction.
“These measure and recommendations will improve the situation for top athletes,” Mr. Stahl said. “This is something for our athletes, those who want to win medals while also be successful in their studies. I am delighted that Swiss Olympic, swissuniversities and the Swiss University Sport Federation have succeeded in finding good solutions for Swiss athletes.”
Lucerne 2021 and Youth Olympic athlete development plan
swissuniversities, which brings together the universities of Switzerland, recommends the option of part-time studies for athletes at all Swiss universities
Swiss Olympic said that the “Spitzensport und Studium” programme would be for at least the next four years, and that it would be integrated in the athlete development sustainability plan for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne 2020 and at the Lucerne Winter Universiade in 2021.
“Achieving top sport while studying is a remarkable achievement,” Dr. Hengartner said. “It takes a great deal of commitment, discipline, perseverance and enthusiasm. The universities and Swiss Olympic are partners for the athletes. We want to support them on their way to gold, silver or bronze.”