Switzerland (SUI)

Switzerland first formed a committee in 1902, which functioned only for the Olympic Games of 1904, 1908 and 1912. The National Olympic Committee was created on 7 October 1912 at the Hôtel Meurice in Ouchy-Lausanne and was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the same year.

Switzerland first competed at the 1896 Olympic Games when it was represented by the gymnasts Louis Zutter from Neuchâtel, Charles Champaud and by the sport shooter Albert Baumann. Switzerland also competed at the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924, and was represented before that in 1920 at Antwerp in both the figure skating and ice hockey events. It has been represented at every Olympic Games and every Olympic Winter Games, one of only four countries to make this claim (Great Britain, France, and Italy are the others), although Switzerland boycotted the 1956 Olympic Games, but had been present at the 1956 Equestrian Games held in Stockholm.

Switzerland has really never been the dominant country in any sport. In the early Games it had top-notch gymnasts. Until the German Democratic Republic (GDR) became dominant it was the top nation in bobsledding in the Winter Games. Most of its medals, however, have come in Alpine skiing (66 medals, 22 golds), where the Swiss have always been among the top nations. In total, Switzerland has won 353 medals, 109 gold, with 153 medals and 56 gold at the Olympic Winter Games. Switzerland’s top Olympians have been Georges Miez and Eugen Mack (both with eight medals in gymnastics), with Miez, Simon Ammann (ski jumping) and Dario Cologna (cross-country skiing) all winning four gold medals.

St. Moritz, Switzerland hosted the 2nd Olympic Winter Games in 1928 and the 5th Olympic Winter Games in 1948. Several Swiss towns have tried to host the Winter Games again, but never passed the bid stage. The city of Lausanne is usually considered to be the “Olympic City” as the IOC has been headquartered there since World War I.