Impressive infrastructure and a tightly scheduled timetable
Even though the dimensions are smaller than for the regular Swiss Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF), an impressive arena with four grandstands and a total of 18,000 seats has been built for the anniversary festival. The arena includes four partially covered grandstands, as well as grass and just over 100 media seats. Construction work on the arena began on August 12 and will be completed shortly before the event on September 6. The construction is once again being carried out with the active support of around 70 members of the army.
Challenges and satisfaction
Project manager David Frei looks proudly at the temporary stadium: “We had to overcome a number of challenges: the access road to the site is very narrow and not without danger for the 60 articulated lorries transporting the materials; then it was very hot for days on end, so we had to build temporary showers for the army personnel. But without them and the civil protection workers, the construction would have been impossible. But in the end, it is always a real pleasure to see the result of our work. The cooperation with the local organizing committee and the army personnel was highly professional and characterized by a shared spirit.”
Background and postponement
The Jubilee Schwingfest 2020 should have originally taken place to celebrate the 125th anniversary (1895 + 125 years). The postponement by three more years is mainly based on the fact that three significant Swiss Federal Wrestling Festivals were or are scheduled for 2022 (ESAF Pratteln), 2023 (Unspunnen Schwinget) and 2025 (ESAF Glarnerland+). The organizing committee is now taking advantage of the gap to hold a festival in 2024 that is worthy of an anniversary.
About the Jubilee Federal Schwingfest
The Jubilee Federal Schwingfest is a traditional sports event that brings together Swiss wrestlers and takes place only once every 25 years. It is a festival of community and sport that delights both participants and spectators. In addition to the 120 wrestlers, around 20,000 guests are expected in Appenzell.
Federal Jubilee Wrestling Festival 2024 in Appenzell appenzell2024.ch
