Cooperation between Switzerland and Azerbaijan

On October 11–12, the “Swiss Days” event was held at Baku Boulevard.

Within the framework of cooperation between the Embassy of Switzerland in Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation (AGF), athletes of Switzerland’s traditional wrestling style Schwingen — Gian Odermatt, Karim Leuppi, Andrin Poltera, and Daniel Boesch — engaged in bouts with wrestlers of our national wrestling.

The musical and entertainment-filled ceremony, held as part of an exchange of experience, attracted great interest from spectators. In their speeches, Thomas Staehli, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Azerbaijan, Parvin Piriyev, the Secretary General of AGF, along with other federation officials, stated that this initiative makes a valuable contribution to sharing the techniques, traditions, and values of athletes from both countries, to strengthening international sports relations, and to promoting mutual understanding through the universal language of wrestling. Such initiatives bring wrestling closer to the public, foster sincere relations between our prominent athletes and local communities, and encourage youth to engage in sports.

In the future, joint training camps between the teams of both countries and further enhancement of cooperation in this sport are planned.

It should be noted that Schwingen is a form of folk wrestling held on sawdust and is considered one of Switzerland’s most famous and symbolic national sports.