World Footy News

With the original list of hopeful IC11 attendees having shrunk somewhat, some positive news has come out of Europe with the AFL Switzerland stating that they are still planning on making the trip Down Under this August.

At this point, it looks likely that France and Switzerland will be the only new European nations at the 2011 International Cup, with other nations including Croatia and the Netherlands keen early, but unable to clear financial or logistical hurdles to make it to Australia this time around. Italy were originally hoping to send both men's and women's teams, but eventually decided to only bring their women's side.

Peta Lowry, who is working with both the Swiss men's side and the Italian women's side, says that the Swiss are still very much focussed on getting to Australia in August, with a number of initiatives underway to source funding for the trip.

"Unlike AFL Italia, who have decided to focus on growing the clubs and leagues in Italy, AFL Switzerland are still very much focused on getting to Australia in August. The team is training hard and the bulk of them played a great scratch match against AFL Italia club the Roma Blues in Rome a couple of weeks ago. Roma won, however they had home ground advantage and a big bench, given they didn't have to travel 7 hours," Lowry says.

"The biggest issue with us getting to Australia at the moment is of course funding, however we have a number of sponsorship proposals being assessed currently and are awaiting answers on a number of funding requests. We have the support of the Swiss Club of Australia and the Swiss Ambassador is hosting a welcome event for the team in Melbourne on the 22nd or 23rd August."

As part of the IC's Sydney leg, the AFL's Sydney Swans are also hosting a Red & White dinner event at their club rooms in Kings Cross - for teams competing in the tournament who wear Red & White, potentially including Denmark, Canada, Switzerland, Japan and Indonesia.

Lowry says the Red & White Dinner was largely an initiative of AFL Canada, and the Swiss are looking at ways to invite their supporters along and hold a number of fundraising events during the evening. For example they’re seeking items that could be donated in Sydney to hold either a “silent auction” or raffle at the event so if you know of any contacts or businesses who would be keen to support the International “red & white” teams, get in contact with AFL Switzerland so they can coordinate the donations.

Switzerland currently has one established footy club in Lugano, in the country's Italian-speaking southern region. Lugano competed as part of the AFL Italia last year, located as they are only about an hour from Milan, the home of Italy's oldest Australian rules football club.

The second Swiss club is currently under formation in Zurich, with the Zurich Steinbocks travelling to Lugano earlier this year for the first domestic clash in Swiss footy history.

Team Switzerland at the Euro Cup in 2010



Photo courtesy of Daniela Scalia.