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In Switzerland, sports significantly impact economic, political, health, and cultural aspects, shedding light on the unique dynamics of modernity. The “La Fabrique des sports nationaux” project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation from 2019 to 2023, aims to explore the origins and early development of sports in Switzerland between 1860 and 1930. Focusing on cycling, gymnastics, football, shooting, and “national games” like Hornussen and Swiss wrestling, the research correlates the evolution of these sports with the country’s political, economic, and cultural development since 1848. This article provides a brief overview of the project’s main objectives, emphasizing extensive research on Swiss sport elite.
Introduction
The organizers of the Fête fédérale de lutte in Zoug (August 2019) plan to construct a temporary stadium with 56,500 seats, making it one of the largest in sports history. The upcoming Fête fédérale de gymnastique in Lausanne in 2025 anticipates a participation of around 70,000, surpassing the 11,000 athletes in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In Switzerland, from urban centers to small villages, citizens actively engage in sports, dedicating time as volunteers or participating in clubs and associations. This strong sports culture significantly influences Swiss society, contributing to its economy, political discussions, and national identity.
Sport not only generates economic activity, from professional athletes to the global sports market, but also sparks political debates, especially regarding sports venue construction. The impact of sports extends beyond the field, playing a crucial role in shaping Swiss national identities. Major events, national teams, and sports figures like Roger Federer create a sense of community and shared beliefs among Swiss citizens. Hobsbawm notes that sports provide a common ground for understanding and identification, akin to the role of Alpine landscapes in Swiss iconography, contributing to national unity across cultural, social, and religious divisions.
To delve into the significance of sports in Swiss society, the “La Fabrique des sports nationaux” project, funded by the Swiss National Foundation for Sciences (SNSF) from 2019 to 2023, examines the inception and early development of Swiss sports from the 1860s to the 1930s. The project focuses on cycling, football, gymnastics, shooting, and “national games” such as hörnussen and Swiss wrestling. It aims to analyze the hybridization of foreign practices like football and the sportization of competitive physical activities, exploring the social background and motivations of key figures in national sports associations. The paper includes a brief overview of recent Swiss sports historiography and outlines the theoretical and empirical issues addressed in the research on the Swiss sports elite.
Taking a Step Forward in Swiss Sport elite Historiography
In the early 20th century, the history of sports in Switzerland was largely unexplored and predominantly documented by non-professional historians and journalists. Despite a few exceptions, such as Louis Burgener’s study on the institutionalization of Physical Education in Swiss society (1952), and works on topics like the Federal Commission of Gymnastics and the role of gymnastics in children’s education during the 19th century, the overall research on Swiss sports history was limited compared to other countries. However, since the early 2000s, a new generation of scholars has contributed to changing this landscape, with a particular focus on football, including its democratization, commercialization, and political implications.
Research has also extended to winter sports, such as Alpine skiing and ice hockey, emphasizing the link between sports and tourism. Studies have explored the establishment of sports like ski, bobsled, and tennis, attributing a significant role to hoteliers in their development. Additionally, investigations into the place of gymnastics in schools and universities, as well as the impact of Swedish gymnastics in Switzerland, have enriched the understanding of sports history in the country.
While progress has been made, certain sports like cycling, shooting, and national games (hörnussen and Swiss wrestling) remain underexplored. Furthermore, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the institutionalization of major sports at the national level and the role of sport leaders. The relationship between sports, politics, and the economy has also received limited attention, despite some notable works.
In response to these gaps, a four-year project titled “La Fabrique des sports nationaux” aims to address three main axes: the creation of national sports bodies, the examination of the elites within these organizations, and the study of interactions between them. The project seeks to understand why and how these organizations were formed, the social profiles of their elites, and the dynamics between different sports elites and practices, expanding the perspective beyond conflicts like gymnastics versus football to explore broader interactions.
Studying the Swiss Sport Elite
The project focuses on five sports – cycling, football, gymnastics, shooting, and Swiss national sports (hörnussen and Swiss wrestling) – chosen for their significance in Swiss sports. The hypothesis, inspired by Barbara Keys’ work, suggests that national associations in these sports played a crucial role in their development, disseminating them, defending their interests, and publicizing them through media. The study aims to explore the chronology of these bodies’ development, emphasizing cooperation or competition within and between sports. The research relies on unexplored archives of national sports organizations, aiming to provide a prosopographical perspective on the elites involved.
The study will examine leaders’ motivations beyond a love for sports, considering social, economic, and political factors. Drawing on Swiss elite studies, the research team will identify leaders through general assembly minutes and annual reports, collecting biographical information from various sources. A FileMaker database will centralize and analyze data, potentially enabling network analysis and public dissemination. The research team comprises four members from the Institute of Sport Sciences at the University of Lausanne, each focusing on specific sports and aspects of the project.
Conclusion
The project anticipates several outcomes. Annual conferences in sports, global, and contemporary history, along with biannual workshops with Swiss counterparts, are planned for result dissemination. The culmination will be an international congress at the University of Lausanne, focusing on the “nationalization” of sport, emphasizing cultural transfer, national sport associations’ development, and motivations of top sport leaders. Major outputs will include the PhD theses of Sébastien Cala and Gil Mayencourt, along with a synthesis book in the “Sport and Social Sciences” collection by Alphil, and papers in reputable journals. The project aims to enhance understanding of sports development in Swiss society, laying the groundwork for future research in Swiss sport elite history. Collaboration with international colleagues will be facilitated, fostering discussions on a previously neglected aspect of Swiss sport history. Additionally, the research will shed light on the motivations of Swiss sports elites, providing insights into their social, economic, and political engagements. Ultimately, the project aspires to establish sports as a legitimate field of research in Swiss historiography’s evolving landscape.
Source:
Vonnard, P., Mayencourt, G. & Gerber, H. (2019). « La Fabrique des sports nationaux ». Étudier l’émergence d’une élite du sport Suisse (1860-1930). Staps, 125, 151-163. https://doi.org/10.3917/sta.125.0151