The Special Olympics come to Zug and will cost CHF 4 million

Around 2,000 athletes are expected in Zug in June 2026. The organising committee under the leadership of Andreas Hotz is currently in the process of securing the basic funding for the event.

The fact that the city of Zug can handle major events was proven by the Eidgenössischen Schwing- und Älplerfest (Federal Wrestling and Alpine Festival ESAF) 2019, and Zug will host the Federal Yodelling Festival (Eidgenössischen Jodlerfest) next year. And another major event is now being added:, the National Summer Games of Special Olympics Switzerland will take place in Zug in 2026, as was announced at the beginning of March. These are the largest and most important sporting events in Switzerland for people with intellectual disabilities.

The six-member organising committee (OK) under the leadership of the former Baar mayor Andreas Hotz is already carrying out the preparations. In addition to Andreas Hotz, the OK core team includes Eliane Müller, Felix Jaray, Gerda Schwindt, Heinz Merz and Daniel Schärer.

The Summer Games will take place for five days in June 2026 (Wednesday evening to Sunday). The exact date has not yet been set. According to Andreas Hotz, the aim is to expand the OK in the course of this year in order to take on the concrete planning. When asked why the event fits in here, Andreas Hotz says:

"Zug is an community that is open to the world and, in addition to its qualities in hosting major festivals, has also demonstrated solidarity and compassion again and again."

And he emphasizes further: "In addition, we have an excellent infrastructure in the city of Zug and in the adjacent communities." For example, the Bossard Arena and its surroundings, the Lättich in Baar or the golf course in Holzhäusern.

An impression of the last Summer Games from May 2018.
The last "Summer Games" took place in Geneva in 2018.                  Photos: PD
The closing ceremony with the young tambours marked the conclusion of the 2006 Special Olympics event       Photo: Werner Schelbert
Andreas Hotz.                                                                               Photo: Maria Schmid

Dealing with people with disabilities has always fascinated him, explains the OK President, "because it is precisely these people who are able to express spontaneity, joie de vivre and gratitude". He is also firmly convinced that "inclusion is good for all of us and creates added value for everyone". The organisers will use the slogan "It's time for inclusion" to advertise the event on their website.

Opening ceremony in the centre of the city of Zug
Around 2,000 athletes from all regions are expected to attend, with competitions taking part in 14 different sports, including cycling, swimming, athletics and golf. In addition to the sporting aspect, the Summer Games are also about bringing the Special Olympics organisation and its vision closer to a broad audience.

This includes a supporting programme, with, for example, an opening ceremony that will take place in the centre of the city of Zug. The number of visitors is very difficult to predict, says Andreas Hotz, but he expects at least 10,000.

The Zug OK is currently in the process of securing the basic financing for the event. The total budget will probably be slightly over CHF 4 million, according to Andreas Hotz. He admits:

"That is a large sum and triggers respect."

The financing will hardly be possible without a "significant participation" from the public sector, although the sum is considerably lower than was raised in Geneva, where the last Summer Games took place in 2018. The National Games of Special Olympics Switzerland take place every two years, alternately in summer and winter, and the Summer Games will be held in St. Gallen this June.

Good infrastructure and experience with major events
The representatives of today's OK already expressed an interest in bringing the major event to Zug at the end of 2019. "The Special Olympics received a broad-based letter of intent from Zug in November 2021," explains Irene Nanculaf from the media office.

"Due to this positive development, we decided not to put the 2026 event out to tender, but to only evaluate Zug's candidacy."

As a venue, Zug stands out for various reasons. The sporting, hotel and transport infrastructures meet the requirements, for example, Zug has also had experience with other major events and the vision of promoting the Games as a platform for the social inclusion of people with disabilities is shared by both the initiators and the local government.

This is not the first time that Zug has hosted the games: the event already took place here in 2006, when 1,364 athletes took part and competed in eight sports.