House of Switzerland: the Swiss “Red Zone” at the Olympic Games in London is open
Bern, 20.07.2012 - The Swiss guest house opens its doors a week before the Olympic Games begin in London. As part of a celebratory ceremony, the House of Switzerland officially opens on the bank of the Thames on 20 July 2012. Over the coming 24 days, the House of Switzerland will offer Swiss athletes an oasis of calm in the middle of London and entertain the public with a varied programme of Swiss music, culture, art and culinary specialities. Swiss athletes, journalists, politicians and business people can use the House of Switzerland as a meeting place to hold discussions and make contacts.
It all kicks off at 6 p.m. local time on Friday 20 July. After nine days of construction and a week before the Olympic Games begin, the House of Switzerland UK 2012 opens its doors at London Bridge. At the celebration, representatives from London’s local authorities, the Swiss ambassador in London, Anton Thalmann, and Nicolas Bideau, the Head of Presence Switzerland, will greet guests and visitors to the Swiss guest house on the first evening.
“The House of Switzerland’s presence in Southwark gives Britons the opportunity to discover another country in the middle of our own district over the next three weeks. I am delighted to welcome Switzerland as our guest”, says Councillor Althea Smith, Worshipful Mayor of Southwark, the district in which the House of Switzerland is based.
Ambassador Anton Thalmann says, “The opening of the House of Switzerland in Southwark is the result of a very close partnership between Switzerland and London, which has also grown into a close friendship during this time.”
Following the official opening ceremony, Swiss band Hillbilly Moon Explosion will hold a concert on the House of Switzerland’s open air stage – the first of many concerts intended to enrich the cultural programme at the House of Switzerland over the next 24 days. Presence Switzerland, which is responsible for organising and implementing the House of Switzerland, has created a Red Zone in the heart of London – an area specially coloured Swiss red. It will introduce the general public and the international media to a surprising, multifaceted and creative Switzerland, without omitting the better-known and much loved aspects of our country. As well as concerts, the event programme also offers visitors Swiss short films and the Bernese Games, a scaled-down version of the Unspunnen Festival. Three members of the Swiss Federal Council will also pay a visit to the House of Switzerland, as well as several members of parliament and representatives from Cantonal Governments and towns. The Swiss Game Lounge and the “Swiss Games” app, recently launched by Presence Switzerland, round out Switzerland's innovative and creative image.
“London is ready for the Olympic Games: athletes are moving into Olympic Village and journalists are arriving from all over the world. The city is living and breathing the Games”, says Nicolas Bideau, Head of Presence Switzerland. “This city will attract the eyes of the world for the next 24 days, and it is here that Switzerland and its athletes will show exactly what they are capable of."
Media contact
Angelica SCHEMPP, Media team, House of Switzerland UK 2012
phone (Switzerland): +41 31 511 01 87
phone (UK): +44 (0)7922 240 560
media@houseofswitzerland.org
Address for enquiries
FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA
Publisher
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html
