Exciting things are happening at Special Olympics Switzerland! Starting in 2026, we are filling two exciting positions that will help shape, connect, and make a difference: a role in sports and education, and the management of the SOSWI Graubünden support association. Both roles offer purpose, personal responsibility, and exciting tasks, with a focus on the National Games Chur 2028 and the World Winter Games Switzerland 2029. If you enjoy taking on responsibility, strengthening networks, and promoting sports and physical activity for all, you’ll find the opportunity here to actively shape the future.

You can find all information about both positions here.

We welcome applications from motivated individuals who want to join Special Olympics with heart, expertise, and passion.

We are very pleased to welcome the new members of the Athlete Commission!

Stefanie Bacher, Marco Ebneter, Loïc Paroz, Alessandro Stefani, and Ramon Perez are newly involved in this important role. Together with existing members Ivo Tippmar, Edith Ledergerber, Olivier Paccaud, and Maj-Lis Weikert, they represent the voice of the athletes within Special Olympics Switzerland.

The Athlete Commission is a central link between Special Olympics Switzerland and the athletes. They contribute their perspectives, ideas, and experiences, helping to ensure that the voices of the athletes are heard in all areas of our work.

We wish the new members much joy, inspiration, and success in their new task – and thank them warmly for their commitment to our movement!

Find out more about the Athletes’ Committee here.

In addition to organizing regional and national multi-sport events, training support staff, and sending delegations to international competitions and Special Olympics World Games, Special Olympics Switzerland is a strong voice for the interests of people with cognitive and multiple disabilities in the Swiss sports system. At the heart of this is our commitment to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – and thus to an inclusive world of sports.

Position Paper

With the newly published position paper, SOSWI sets out its position and overarching goals in eight points. “The development was an intensive process at all levels of our organization. The result helps us in our positioning within Swiss sport and society,” says Simon Ammann, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The complete position paper with all goals and background information can be found here.

New structures for big goals

The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2029 in our own country bring enormous opportunities and equally great challenges. In order to optimally prepare the athletes for this event and to ensure that the so-called legacy projects also leave something behind in the long term – such as new sports opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities or impulses for a more inclusive society – SOSWI is reorganizing its operational organization. From September 1, the management will be taken over as co-management by Bruno Barth and Cristiana Fiacco: Bruno Barth will focus more on his role as President of the World Winter Games 2029 and on the expansion of strategic partnerships. Cristiana Fiacco, Head of Sports Development, will newly take over responsibility for relations with Swiss Olympic, the BASPO and the sports associations. She will be supported by Werner Augsburger, member of the Foundation Board and Head of the Sports Commission since this summer.

Cristiana Fiacco studied Sport Management and has been strengthening the team in sports development for over a year. As an experienced figure skating coach and former managing director of “Swiss Ice Movement,” she brings extensive expertise in the sports sector and in the development of new projects. Her many years of experience and passion for sport are reflected in her commitment to the personal and sporting development of athletes.

As a former professional athlete and experienced manager in Swiss sport, Werner Augsburger brings valuable know-how to the foundation. His career combines sport and management, including as CEO of Swiss Volley, Technical Director at Swiss Olympic and in various administrative board mandates and consulting functions.

Refreshed and with renewed energy, we’re kicking off the late summer and autumn season. The Regional Games Lugano are just around the corner. Many smaller, one-day movement and competition opportunities in various sports also await our Special Olympics athletes. And of course, we’re already deep into preparations for the National Summer Games Zug 2026. The pre-registration phase will begin soon.

We look forward to plenty of sports and wonderful encounters with you.

You can find our events here.

The first few months of this year were busy: Our Swiss delegation successfully participated in the World Winter Games Turin 2025, the Regional Games in Rapperswil brought together almost 200 participants, competitions in a variety of sports took place, the first Discovery Days were held, and training courses were conducted. Now, Special Olympics is taking a short summer break.

We will be closed for company holidays from July 28 to August 10. The telephone switchboard will not be staffed during this time. However, you can reach us at any time at info@specialolympics.ch.

We wish you all a relaxing summer, thank you for your great support and look forward to getting back to full speed after the holidays, from August 11. You can see which sports offers await you here.

David Evangelista will take over the operational leadership of Special Olympics International as CEO on January 1, 2026. He succeeds Mary Davis, who is retiring after ten years in this role and a total of 47 years of commitment to the movement.

David Evangelista is currently President of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia and has over 20 years of experience in various leadership roles within the movement. He brings a strong international perspective, profound expertise, and a deeply rooted conviction for inclusion and empowerment.

For Special Olympics Switzerland, this appointment is particularly welcome news. David Evangelista has maintained a close connection to Switzerland for many years. He has repeatedly visited Special Olympics Switzerland, including at the National Games in Haslital (2024) and St. Gallen (2022) or on the occasion of the Swiss Night during the World Games in Berlin (2023). Bruno Barth, Managing Director of Special Olympics Switzerland, comments on the appointment: “I am delighted that David, a friend of SO Switzerland, is once again taking on the position of CEO of Special Olympics International. Due to his current position, he is also very familiar with European culture. We look forward to working together towards the World Winter Games Switzerland 2029 .”

David Evangelista not only brings extensive experience in international development, partnerships, and sports diplomacy but also understands how to place the voices and perspectives of athletes at the center of his work – an approach that is gaining increasing importance worldwide at Special Olympics and also in Switzerland.

We warmly congratulate David on his new role and look forward to a shared future with him at the helm of our global movement.

Image: David Evangelista at the Swiss Night of the World Summer Games Berlin 2023, @WeArePepper

We are delighted with our newly constituted Board of Trustees! With experts in communication, sports, business, law, and parent representation, we are very professionally and broadly equipped. The three largest linguistic regions are also represented. The commitment and perspectives of our Board of Trustees strengthen our mission – a warm welcome!

Our sincere thanks also go to the departing Board members: Dominique Bobst, Chantal Bournissen, Luana Bergamin, Evaristo Roncelli, and Robert Schmucki. They have supported us for many years and performed outstanding work.

Learn more about our Board of Trustees here.

Photo caption from left to right: Martin Liesch, Anja van Helden, Fabian Frey, Emelie Dorlin, Romano Pezzani, Laurence Buchard, Simon Ammann, Aude Rey, Werner Augsburger, Stefan Frey

Photo credit: WeArePepper

On June 8, 2025, the first official Special Olympics event took place in Yverdon-les-Bains – an atmospheric pétanque tournament in the Boulodrome, organized by the city’s sports service, in collaboration with Special Olympics Switzerland and the Pétanque Club of Yverdon.

In sunny weather, 28 teams consisting of athletes with cognitive impairments and their companions played against each other in a warm and sporting atmosphere.

More info, photos & rankings here

Three decades full of emotions, sporting highlights and unique people who enrich our world with their energy, courage and joy. Thanks to the support of our partners, coaches, organizers, volunteers and fans, we have been able to offer regular sports programs for children, adolescents and adults with cognitive impairments. And countless moments of happiness – on the field, on the stage and in life.

Now we’re starting the next decade. With new projects as well as small and large events such as Regional Games or the National Summer Games Zug 2026. And with the vision of empowering even more people with disabilities through sport.

Thank you for being a part of our movement!

Special Olympics Switzerland is pleased to welcome Werner Augsburger as a new member of its Foundation Board. He will succeed Luana Bergamin and also take over the leadership of the Sports Commission. This body is of central importance for the strategic development of the sports sector at Special Olympics, especially with a view to the World Winter Games, which will take place in Switzerland in 2029. A particular focus of his work will be on strengthening relations with Swiss Olympic and the national sports federations – with the aim of jointly creating more exercise and sports opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.

With Werner Augsburger, an experienced personality from Swiss sports joins the foundation. He was a professional volleyball player himself at VBC Leysin and part of the Swiss national team. His professional career ideally combines sports and management: The 66-year-old Augsburger was, among other things, Sales Manager at Rossignol, Technical Director and Chef de Mission at Swiss Olympic, Director of the Ice Hockey National League, Sports Director at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and most recently CEO of Swiss Volley. Currently, he is involved in various boards of directors in Goms (VS), serves as a delegate for UNICEF Switzerland & Liechtenstein, and manages selected mandates in moderation and consulting through his auXi GmbH. He lives in Düdingen (FR), is a grandfather of four grandchildren, and brings not only broad expertise but also a great passion for sports.

Simon Ammann, President of Special Olympics Switzerland, looks forward to the new addition and emphasizes: “With Werner Augsburger, we have gained one of the most experienced and competent individuals in Swiss sports for our movement.” Werner Augsburger himself says about his commitment: “I am committed to the vision of Special Olympics, as sport – regardless of the performance level – can contribute a great deal to a resilient society in Switzerland.”

We warmly welcome Werner Augsburger and look forward to working together.