Hand in hand through Bern’s eventful summer

From the EuroGames and BernPride to the start of the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships, which were part of the 1 August celebrations 2023, Bern hosted numerous large-scale events this summer. Thanks to the intense collaboration between the organisers, the three events were connected – both in front and behind the scenes –, which made this year’s summer in Bern a colourful festival for everyone.

“Not only did these three huge events take place on or around the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square), but they also shared similar values such as inclusion and sustainability. So, we didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to join hands”, explained the three organisers Martin Rhyner, COO of the 2023 Climbing World Championships Association, Benjamin Sterchi, Managing Director of idééBern, and Thomas Künzi, Managing Director of the EuroGames Bern Association.

The opening ceremony of the EuroGames, the largest queer sporting event, on Wednesday, 26 July 2023, marked the kick off for this unique series of events on the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square). Over the following four days, competitions in sports such as field hockey, minigolf and timed hiking were held at various sports facilities in the neighbourhoods Wankdorf and Weissenstein, highlighting and celebrating diversity. Interested parties were also able to take part in activities such as yoga, a Raclette City Nightwalk and a photo rally. The EuroGames Village on the minster terrace made sure to entertain and take care of athletes and visitors alike with various food and drink options.The EuroGames were created because many athletes are still prevented from participating in sports because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The multi-sport event culminated on Saturday, 29 July 2023, in BernPride, a demonstration/parade that led participants from the Wankdorf stadium via Aargauerstalden through Gerechtigkeitsgasse back to the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square), where the end of the EuroGames was celebrated with the Pride Festival. Nemo, Msoke, Naomi Lareine and drag queen Paprika – well-known stars from the LGBTIQIA+ community – performed at the popular meeting point in front of the Bundeshaus (Parliament Building).

But Bern didn’t stay quiet until the start of the Climbing World Championships on 1 August. The idéeBERN association extended this year’s 1 August celebrations to two days (31 July to 1 August 2023) and turned the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) into a festival site with various activities and events as well as foods and drinks from local producers. In accordance with the motto “Bern celebrates itself” – keep in mind, Bern celebrated 175 years as a federal city in 2023 – the Bundesgasse turned into a culinary alley, the Bundeshaus (Parliament Building) opened its doors to the public on 1 August, free city tours were offered by Bern Welcome, and ten concerts and DJ sets took place on the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) on both days. The traditional lantern procession in cooperation with Procap, the member organisation of and for people with disabilities in Switzerland, built a symbolic bridge to the Climbing World Championships. On the way, the children in the procession picked up the Sport Climbing World Championships athletes and accompanied them to the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square) where the official opening ceremony of the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships took place. “BernPride, the 1 August celebrations and the opening ceremony of the Climbing World Championships all used the same stage”, says Benjamin Sterchi, Managing Director of idéeBERN. “The same applies to the catering, toilet facilities and other infrastructure. We succeeded in harmonising the individual requirements and planning them together. By utilising synergies, we were able to organise the events in a more sustainable way.” Marc Heeb, Head of the Police Inspectorate of the City of Bern, believes that this collaboration also had considerable benefits for the city. “Fewer logistics trips were necessary, which also reduced noise emissions. This helped to minimise conflicts of use.” Bern Welcome was involved in the bidding processes for the EuroGames and the IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships and provided support with tourism services. CEO Manuela Angst was very excited about the festival in the federal city: “It was wonderful to see these success stories emerge from our network.”

While the EuroGames and BernPride focused on diversity, the Sport Climbing World Championships were a great opportunity for paraclimbing to take centre stage: “Even today, parasport still receives too little attention”, says Amruta Wyssmann, para-athlete in the Swiss Climbing Team. The 31-year-old from Zollikofen was the first female athlete in the current national paraclimbing team (consisting of 16 athletes), making her a pioneer in the Swiss paraclimbing scene. “Being able to participate in the world championships in my home country was huge for me and I hope that, together with my team, I can set a lasting sign for more inclusion in sport."