Photo © ECC

As part of their strategy to develop the game amongst the local population, the Swiss Cricket Association approached Swiss Olympic about the possibility of demonstrating cricket at the Swiss national exhibition, as part of the Expo Sport Festival on 26/27 July in the picturesque setting of Yverdon on the shores of Lake Neuchatel. Swiss Olympic agreed, and the SCA set about preparing to present cricket at this national sporting event.

Photo © ECC

Members of Cossonay CC set up a stand with information, videos and equipment to show the thousands of visitors the basics of the game. An Astroturf net facility was also available to provide youngsters with an introduction to batting and bowling. The SCA were ably supported by the ECC in the form of coach Dave Gelling, and Swiss Olympic in the form of Patrick Buchs, their Expo Games coordinator.

Photo © ECC

The event was very well attended, and there were hundreds of enquiries about cricket, with many visitors surprised to discover that it was played in Switzerland. Time will tell whether this event has provided the SCA with future prospective Swiss National players. Swiss Olympic plans to continue this type of event, and the SCA hopes this will become a regular avenue for them to reach the local public.

Coach Gelling also found time over the weekend to run a brief coaching session with youngsters in Geneva, which coincided with a visit from Cabris Colts (France) who were spending the day in Switzerland. He also managed to check progress at the new ground at Cossonay and to nip across the border to see a local Swiss League game with Cossonay playing away at CERN, rounding off a busy but enjoyable weekend.