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Geneva not to host wrestling tournament

Thursday, 25 June 2026 06:30

Swiss Wrestling Tournament

Geneva has formally pulled out of the running to host the 2031 Federal Wrestling Festival, despite cantonal backing.

Léman Bleu reported the city council blocked the bid over the logistics of putting a 45,000-seat arena on Plaine de Plainpalais — one and a half times the capacity of Stade de Genève. 

The city had proposed moving the arena to the outskirts and keeping a festival village in Plainpalais, but organisers said an urban arena was Geneva's only winning card against rival hosts. 

A delegation of Swiss wrestlers had travelled to Geneva to plead the cause directly with city magistrate Marie Barbey-Chapuis. 

The decision ends a high-profile attempt to bring one of the country’s biggest traditional events to French speaking Switzerland.

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