Further preparation under way for major Swiss-wrestling tournament

As can be seen from this aerial photograph, the land earmarked for the holding of the National Swiss-Wrestling and Alpine Festival (Esaf) which is to take place in August of next year, is quite extensive.
 
Last week it was reported how the last few remaining trees on the site were felled as they stood just where the arena is to be sited. Now, as also can be seen in the photograph, what looks like some mysterious crop circle is actually preparation for the laying of electricity and IT cables and pipes for the supply of water.

When all is complete, there will be seating for as many as 56,000 spectators on this five-hectare site, on which work was started to level it all off as long as three years ago. Great care has also been taken to ensure it can be properly drained, too. As Walter Lätscher, the head of Esaf infrastructure explained, the seeding for grassed areas where the seven arenas are to be sited will take place later this year to ensure it is just right when the tournament starts.

Not that Esaf will be solely about Swiss wrestling and yodelling, many other ancillary attractions are planned, too, all along Allmendstrasse and by the Bossard Arena with the prize-winning area and dining areas set up at the southern end of the site by Stierenplatz, where the Bull Market takes place.

So far, no concerns have been expressed by locals who live near the site, in fact great care is being taken to avoid noise and disturbance while the construction of it all is under way.

Further information can be found on Esaf’s website, though tickets will not actually go on sale until the beginning of next year. However, if you want to reserve a space on the camp site you can do this from autumn of this year.