Lausanne, Olympic Capital
Lausanne, Switzerland’s fifth biggest city, is situated on the banks of Lake Geneva, the largest in central Europe, in an exceptional setting facing the Alps and enjoys timeless natural scenery.
General
information
| Surface area of the commune |
41,4 km2 (+ lake =13.4 km2) |
|
| Climate | Average daily temperature in January | Approx. 3° C (min. - 6°C) |
| Average daily temperature
in July |
Approx. 22°C
(max. - 31,5°C) |
|
| Resident population by origin | Swiss | 82’000 |
| Non-Swiss | 43’000 | |
| Total |
125’000 inhabitants |
|
| Total | Lausanne urban area | 280’000 inhabitants |
The region has a tradition for excellence in the fields of training and research. The Federal Polytechnic University and its scientific park are among the most important scientific and technological centres in the world.
Culturally, Lausanne’s reputation largely surpasses the size of the city. Its extensive cultural programme has enabled it to build up a wealth of support throughout Europe and beyond. The city is the base for Maurice Béjart and his dance company (Béjart Ballet Lausanne), organiser of the Prix de Lausanne competition for young dancers, birthplace of a well known chamber orchestra (Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne), Lausanne, which is also the headquarters of the European-famed Théâtre de Vidy-Lausanne, and boasts the operatic productions of l’Opéra de Lausanne, enjoys a great artistic reputation. This strong cultural choice on offer is completed by various museums, including one which is unique in the world: the Olympic Museum.
.
For
80 years the histories of Lausanne and the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) have been closely linked. Pierre Coubertin
(1863-1937), the founder of the modern Games, moved the headquarters of
the IOC to Lausanne in 1915. The goal of the IOC, founded in Paris on
23rd June 1894, is to re-establish the Olympic Games. A great deal has
happened since the first Games in Athens in 1896! On 23rd June 1994.
on the occasion of its 100th
birthday, the IOC officially named Lausanne the Olympic capital - a unique
and prestigious title!
The
IOC’s presence in Lausanne has had a snowball effect. Various sports
federations have established their headquarters in the Vaud capital.
Soon Lausanne will be home to the Maison du Sport International. Such
concentration is doubtless not yet over. The city also plays host to the
Court of Arbitration
for Sport (CAS) which plays the same role in the Olympic world as
the International Court of Justice at The Hague for reaching accord between
nations, the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS), and
also the Association of
Summer Olympic International Federations.
|
|
Organiser of prestigious sporting events such as
Events to come :
|
Lausanne has a centre which allows it to host international competitions, and is also well-equipped with sporting facilities: stadiums, including the Olympic stadium and the Juan Antonio Samaranch stadium, swimming pools and ice rinks, which are available to clubs or the general public, and where a wide variety of sports can be practised (71 different sporting disciplines). In winter the close proximity of the Alps means that you can quickly reach the snowy slopes and enjoy winter sports.
In the medical field, Lausanne has first-class infrastructure and expertise.
The University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud (CHUV), which includes the
Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses (LAD), and different private clinics
offer quality health care which has long attracted numerous foreign patients.
Useful links
