— Published February 25, 2026

Ruth Metzler-Arnold: "The decentralized concept is the future of the Olympic Games."

InterviewMilan-Cortina 2026 Focus

Credits: Swiss Olympic.

The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will go down in Swiss sporting history: the Swiss delegation shattered its records by winning 23 medals, including six golds. Alpine skiing (9 medals) and freestyle skiing (5) led the way, but Swiss athletes shone much more brightly, reaching the podium in eight different sports. Ruth Metzler-Arnold, President of Swiss Olympic, reflects on these Games, their impact, and the lessons that can be learned for the future. the Swiss bid 2038.

What is your assessment of these Games?

From a sporting performance perspective, it's exceptional. We've exceeded our expectations. Our record was 15 medals, and we won 23—that's fantastic! What I'm also very pleased about is that we won these medals in eight different sports: bobsleigh, curling, alpine skiing, hockey, ski jumping, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, and ski mountaineering. Five different national federations won medals, which demonstrates the diversity of Swiss sport. The federations did a great job. In Beijing, the medals came from only three sports and a single federation, Swiss-Ski.

Does Switzerland have the potential to go a little higher than these 23 medals in the future?

(Laughs) I'm very surprised we reached 23 medals. Considering how many disappointments we've had, we could have done even better. On the other hand, there were also a few surprises. We have so many athletes with the potential to win medals, but the competition is fierce. Of course, we're improving, but so are the others! Reaching 23 medals again in four years will be difficult; it's a very ambitious goal.

What did the athletes tell you about this experience in Italy?

The experience is truly different depending on the sport and the venue. In Bormio, the alpine skiers were on their own, whereas in Cortina or Milan, there was an Olympic Village that allowed athletes from different sports and nations to interact. I spoke with the athletes, their families, and their coaches, and it remains a very positive experience for the majority. We heard some criticisms, and we take them seriously. Some athletes said that the Olympic atmosphere was somewhat lacking. They also regretted the absence of the medal ceremonies as we knew them. We discussed this with the IOC, and we hope they will return for 2030. These Games have proven that the decentralized concept truly makes sense, but there are certainly ways to offer all athletes a genuine Olympic experience.

Did the Swiss public follow these Games with interest?

I don't have all the figures, but the television channels SRF and RTS announced record audiences. Our social media presence was also very strong. We reached new heights with a campaign called "Fan-Phone": we received thousands of messages from fans encouraging the athletes, more than double the number for Paris 2024. This enthusiasm was evident in the reception Franjo von Allmen received in his village of Boltigen. It was truly extraordinary; he was celebrated like a real hero. It shows how sport can bring people together. Personally, I also met many Swiss fans in Bormio for alpine skiing and ski mountaineering, in Cortina for curling and bobsleigh, in Antholz for biathlon, and in Livigno. The passion for winter sports is very strong in Switzerland.

Can these Games have a lasting impact in Switzerland?

I'm convinced there's an impact, but it varies depending on the sport. For ski mountaineering, which is relatively new, it's an extraordinary showcase, and I know the federation hopes to capitalize on it to attract young people. More generally, our young people need role models, idols. I'm convinced that thanks to these Games, many children will want to follow in the footsteps of von Allmen and others, as we saw last year with the Women's European Football Championship. It will motivate young people to take up winter sports.

From a global perspective, success breeds success, so all these medals are positive for Swiss sport. I'm thinking of the sponsors, the political world… I hope all these successes will influence Parliament's decisions. The year 2026 is truly pivotal for two major projects: the bid for the 2038 Winter Games and the bid for the 2030 European Championships, both with a decentralized concept. We need political support. Without it, there's no bid. I'm convinced that what we saw in Italy will help us.

This can also help in the debate on the anti-SSR initiative ?

I think the coverage of the Olympic Games came at the right time. Swiss television channels covered the Games excellently. Four weeks before the vote, the timing wasn't bad. There was a lot of interest in the Games. I believe that was positive for the "no" vote on the initiative gaining ground.

Since you visited all the competition venues, were you able to draw any lessons for Switzerland 2038?

Yes, we have real proof that a decentralized concept can work, and in my opinion, it's the future. Our concept for 2038 is very similar, with existing infrastructure and competition venues spread throughout Switzerland. What will be much easier is faster travel, thanks in particular to our public transport system, which is very well-developed compared to other countries. There are other questions about the medal plazaRegarding the Olympic atmosphere, we need to talk about it. In Italy, for example, instead of leaving the alpine skiers alone in Bormio, they could have been housed in Livigno in the Olympic Village, a 45-minute drive away. There are advantages and disadvantages; we need to think about how to better concentrate the athletes. We're learning from Italy, we'll learn from France, and we'll work on these ideas with our bid.