Published on 3 April 2024

Elite sport in the Swiss Armed Forces

The Swiss Armed Forces (SAF) support federations and their athletes through various funding programmes to establish themselves in international top level sport, strengthen elite sport and enable long-term international success.

Roman Mityukov — © ©KEYSTONE/AFP/Greg Baker

The Armed Forces offer the following funding opportunities:

• Qualified athlete

  If an athlete does not meet all the requirements to be accepted into the Spitzensport-RS, there are other possibilities to benefit from the top sport promotion of the Swiss Armed Forces.

  Qualified athletes complete their service during basic training of the Swiss Armed Forces. The aim of this support is to ensure the performance level during the time of the basic training.
  
  Requirements:

  • Holder of Swiss Olympic Card
  • Member of national junior squad/ U21, U23 squad / elite squad
  • Team sports: member of the federation selection / national league A (in exceptional cases national league B)
  • Athlete of a sport of national importance (e.g. Schwingen).

  Process

  • Association advises the athlete regarding choice of military division and basic training location.
  • Notification of the athlete via «Qualified Athlete Form» by the association to the Sports Centre of Competence of the SAF (submission deadline: by 01.12. for winter basic training and by 01.05. for summer basic training).
  • Approval by the Sports Centre of Competence.
  • Delivery of the documents (3-4 weeks before the start of the basic training) to the qualified athletes and to the recruit school (by email).
  • Information of the athlete by the sports manager of the respective basic training (1st/2nd RS week). Athlete must show training plan to RS.

  Promotion

  Maximum 4x 3h training time/week (ideally during working hours - in off-peak hours and e.g. when going out); this also depends on the weekly program. Funding will only be granted if there is a detailed training plan and the athlete's behavior is impeccable.

  So if you are still before the official start of your recruit school and meet the above requirements, then contact your sports federation directly.

  • Formulaire athlete qualifié

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  • Formular qualifizierter Athlet

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  • Qualified athletes 2_24

    Promotion of elite sport in the armed forces Qualified athletes

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  • Qualified Athletes_RS_1-25

    PDF251.18 kB18 December 2024

The support measures of the Swiss Armed Forces are fundamentally subsidiary, which means that they are only effective in conjunction with the measures of the sports federation. The integration of the support programmes into the federation's planning (top level sports support concept) is a prerequisite for benefiting from the Swiss Armed Forces' support.

Commitment, military behaviour and visibility

The SAF's promotion is not only important for sport, but also for the Swiss Armed Forces themselves. Sports soldiers are role models. For this reason, correct military behaviour and 100% commitment are required.

Contact Media

The Communication is the point of contact for media representatives. You can reach us at

Kompetenzzentrum Sport der Armee
Hauptstrasse 247
CH-2532 Magglingen/Macolin

[phone]

Communication specialist

Karin Rosser
[e-mail]