ZÜRICH 2014 – More than 100 000 visitors at City Festival so far

The City Festival in the city centre of Zurich is extremely popular. More than 100 000 visitors have come to celebrate the European Athletics Championships Zürich 2014 during the first five days. This figure exceeds expectations by far.

The City Festival in the city centre of Zurich is extremely popular. More than 100 000 visitors have come to celebrate the European Athletics Championships Zürich 2014 during the first five days. This figure exceeds expectations by far.

The festival, featuring various athletics and cultural attractions, continues until Sunday. One of the main highlights on Sechseläutenplatz is the House of Switzerland, which is accessible in its home country for the first time. The famous wooden structure had served as an ambassador for Switzerland in Sochi and Milan. Visitors can take a glimpse behind the scenes of host broadcaster SRG SSR and get to know the world of Top Events of Switzerland in a multimedia exhibition.

Partners of Zürich 2014 and the City Festival offer a variety of exciting activities, games, and events at their pavilions, providing families with a fun athletics experience. The festival also offers gastronomic delights by Henris Catering and Hiltl.

Late in the evening, at 10pm and at 11.15pm (except for Sunday: 10pm only), the beautiful front facade of the Zurich Opera House turns into a screen for the spectacular 3D video shows created by the two artist collectives "Projektil" (from Zurich) and "Lichttapete" (from Vienna). The shows enchant thousands of spectators every night.

There is a good chance to meet athletics stars and other celebrity guests on Sechseläutenplatz these days. The list of stars who stopped by the festival is quite long and includes adventurer Bertrand Piccard, tightrope artist Freddy Nock, Swiss athletics legends Markus Ryffel, Sandra Gasser, Meta Antenen, Edy Hubacher, Anita Protti, Daria Nauer or Rolf Bernhard, as well as international athletics stars, such as newly-crowned decathlon champion Andrei Krauchanka, sprinter Ivet Lalova, former high hurdler Colin Jackson, and – of course – superstar Usain Bolt.

Source: Zürich 2014 – Janine Geigele