Olympic House of Switzerland unveiled

Designs for the House of Switzerland, the official Swiss guest centre at the 2010 Olympic Games, have been presented in Zurich.

It will be fitted out during the lead-up to the Olympic Games, held in Canada from February 12-28, and will then open in both host resorts – Vancouver and Whistler – on February 5.

The tradition of a Swiss guest centre dates back to 1998, when the House of Switzerland celebrated its inaugural event at the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan.

The project is managed by Presence Switzerland, part of the foreign ministry, and acts in partnership with Swiss Tourism and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, swissinfo.ch’s parent body, as a meeting point and social hub for the Swiss Olympic team, its sponsors and partners.

It is also used for receptions, media conferences, client events and medal celebrations.

Vancouver and Whistler will together welcome an estimated 250,000 people. Swiss-friendly audiences may want to turn their attention to Whistler, where more than half of the events will unfold, including the ski and bobsled contests.

The Swiss alpine ski team has collected 53 medals at the Winter Games: 16 gold, 19 silver and 18 bronze.

swissinfo.ch and agencies