Ruth Metzler-Arnold was elected to the Federal Council at just 35, in March 1999, a time when being a woman and being young were certainly not factors that favored a career. Four years later—also a very rare occurrence—her party lost its seat to the SVP and Christoph Blocher, when the Federal Assembly decreed the end of the so-called "magic formula."
Retired before her forties, Ruth Metzler devoted herself to teaching at the University of St. Gallen and working for leading private sector groups, disappearing from the public spotlight except for rare occasions. A couple of years ago, however, a decisive change of direction occurred, with first her candidacy and then her election as president of Swiss Olympic in November 2024. And it is in this capacity that we met her.
In an interview, you said that sport helped you a lot after your failed re-election to the Federal Council. Can you elaborate?
Exercise, especially outdoors, simply does me good. At the time, it distracted me from everyday life and made me think about other things. In general, though, exercising helps me clear my head and organize my thoughts. I often get new ideas that I can then develop and pursue. So, in February 2004, I set myself a new athletic goal: to run my first marathon eight months later, in New York. Something I never would have felt capable of doing until a few weeks earlier.
What role should sport have in our society, in your opinion?
Sport strengthens social life, social cohesion, enthusiasm, and health. Furthermore, sports associations perform extraordinary integration work, almost exclusively on a voluntary basis. Clubs also foster a passion for competitive sport. Many enthusiasts, committed to countless associations, participate as spectators or volunteers at major events. Sport is therefore a cornerstone of our society.
I remember that, as a Federal Councillor, you didn't particularly appreciate contact with the media and media attention. After more than twenty years, you've returned to a public role: how do you feel about it today?
"We obviously have very different memories of that period, which dates back about a quarter of a century. Working with the media and the public, in addition to my government and parliamentary work, was an important part of explaining my department's many and diverse projects. As a young Federal Councillor—and the third woman in the Federal Council—I sometimes received media attention that my male colleagues didn't. Sometimes this was very helpful, other times I wished I hadn't."
Sport has traditionally been a male-dominated world. You're the first woman to lead Swiss Olympic. How was she received?
I'm often asked this question, and I usually respond by asking: would you ask the same question to a man the other way around? This question seems to me to be from another era. I quickly and deeply immersed myself in the world of sport and was warmly welcomed both at Swiss Olympic and throughout the Swiss sports family—including internationally. Interacting with different people in the sporting world was important to me, and I received expert support, especially from colleagues on the Executive Board, the management team, and the Swiss Olympic staff.
What does it mean to be president of this organization? What are your duties and daily work?
On the one hand, I am president of the National Olympic Committee, and on the other, president of the umbrella organization for Swiss sport. Swiss Olympic combines both roles. In day-to-day practice, however, these two roles are very different. As president of the umbrella organization, I want to influence the framework conditions for Swiss sport, ensuring that elite and grassroots sport, and youth promotion can thrive. This means identifying issues of interest to federations and partner organizations: the heavy burden placed especially on small and medium-sized federations, strengthening sports promotion, and the importance of international networking. Together with the members of the Executive Board and the operational team of the Swiss Olympic Secretariat, my task is to draw the right conclusions, initiate projects, and ensure their implementation. As president of the National Olympic Committee, I am deeply committed to Switzerland's bid for the 2038 Olympics and manage relations with the IOC.
How do you manage to reconcile this role with your many other commitments?
The presidency of Swiss Olympic is officially a 50/50 commitment, but in reality it's nearly 100%, with numerous strategic projects, political challenges, and the bids for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the European Championships. When I ran for office, I already anticipated that my commitment would be well above 50/50. Since being elected, I have resigned from seven mandates in companies and foundations, and this year I will also step down from the board of directors of AXA Switzerland. Furthermore, at the 2027 Annual General Meeting, I will step down as president of Switzerland Global Enterprise, as I have already publicly announced.
Do you think your election has changed or will change the perception of the role of women in sport?
The presence and perception of women in sports are constantly increasing. Many sports organizations are actively committed to promoting women's sports and diversity in their bodies. This is very positive, and I welcome every new woman who takes on a leadership role in a sports organization. Studies show that diverse bodies address challenges better.
Staying on the topic of inclusion: I know there are projects to improve collaboration between Swiss Olympic and Swiss Paralympic. Where are we at?
Inclusion is very important to me. As part of a review mandate, we are evaluating whether a merger of the two organizations would bring added value to both Olympic and Paralympic sports. Currently, Swiss Olympic and Swiss Paralympic collaborate closely, but are still organizationally separate.
There's also talk of a merger: how much truth is there in this?
"We are indeed considering a merger, as exists in several countries, such as the Netherlands, Norway, and the United States. There, regular and Paralympic sports are combined under a single organization. In Switzerland, however, a merger will only happen if all parties involved are convinced of the added value."
Beyond the Olympics and the European Championships: what issues occupied you most in the first year of your presidency?
On the one hand, the "Promotion of Sport and Exercise Switzerland 2040" project, launched in March 2025 together with the Federal Office of Sport. The goal is to ensure the long-term development of sports promotion in Switzerland and achieve a broad and profound impact of sport on society. On the other hand, we were very concerned about the savings measures planned by the Confederation in 2025, which would have also affected sport. Thanks to the strong support of Parliament and sports federations, it currently appears that sport will continue to receive the federal funding it deserves due to its social importance. We also opposed the initiative to halve the radio and television license fee, which would have a very negative impact on media coverage of sport.
What do you want to focus on in the future?
Swiss Olympic must continue to guarantee the necessary financial resources for Swiss sport. To this end, we will need to consistently demonstrate the value of sport to society to the Confederation and the cantons, the main funders. Another important issue is the introduction of the new federation funding model, through which, starting in 2027, we intend to provide more targeted support and assist their development.
Let's talk about the 2038 Olympics project: are we financially capable of supporting it? Can we afford it?
Yes, I'm convinced. The Olympic and Paralympic Games have a budget of 2,2 billion Swiss francs, much lower than previous editions of the two events. In the past, costs had increased primarily due to the construction of new infrastructure, which is not included in our project, which significantly reduces the risk of exceeding the budget. Furthermore, our concept calls for 82% of the organizational budget to be privately funded. We are conducting intensive discussions, and in early February we secured the support of a first major sponsor, On.
Why should Switzerland host this major sporting event? What interests does it pursue?
Switzerland, as a winter sports nation, is practically predestined to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We have also designed them to be unique to our country, distributing the competitions across multiple venues and existing facilities. We are convinced that the 2038 Games will be a flagship project for many years to come for Swiss sport and for society as a whole—the economy, tourism, and culture—and will leave a great legacy for our country. In this way, Switzerland will also be able to help shape the future of the Winter Games.
One of the challenges facing major projects in Switzerland is the rights of the people: administrative appeals, referendums, and popular votes. How do you intend to convince the population?
"With a project that's tailored to Switzerland and demonstrates that the entire Confederation will benefit. One of the most important arguments is decentralization: the competitions will be held where the necessary infrastructure and experience in organizing major sporting events already exist. It's also important for the population to recognize that a major event has long-term effects and leaves a lasting legacy."
In parallel with its bid for the 2038 Olympics, Swiss Olympic also wants to bid for the 2030 European Championships: isn't that too much for traditionally cautious Switzerland?
«We are convinced that both events – the summer European Championships and the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games – complement each other excellently, and that they provide the perfect framework for a decade of major sporting events in Switzerland.»
In this case, the event will affect all regions of Switzerland. What options are there for Italian-speaking Switzerland?
It's very important for us to cover all of Switzerland with "Switzerland 2038." This is also evident in the planning of the competition venues. Lugano is currently being planned as the venue for the Olympic ice hockey games. Planning for the European Championships, which sports will be held and where, is already well advanced, but I can't say more at the moment.
Both bills must pass through the Federal Parliament: what is the timetable?
The bidding association for the 2030 European Championships was recently founded. Preparations are well advanced, and the political process will begin soon. Since the event will take place soon, time pressure is high, especially since if the political system refuses to give the green light, the organizers will have to find another country. The timetable for the 2038 Games, however, is already very concrete: the Federal Council consultation is ongoing until mid-March. After its evaluation, the government should submit the project to Parliament before the summer recess. The first chamber will consider it in the September 2026 session, and the second in the December 2026 session. The final decision should then be made by the end of the year, which, within the framework of the privileged dialogue with the IOC, will give us time to finalize and submit the bid.
How much does being a former Federal Councillor help you?
Very much. I'm used to and enjoy engaging with the public and convincing them of the merits of projects. During my tenure in government, all 14 popular votes from my department were approved by the majority of the population. Even though today only a few members of Parliament remain with whom I worked back then, I still have a good understanding of how Parliament works, its processes, and its sensitivities. Furthermore, over the past 15 years, due to my professional commitments, I've had regular contact with federal councilors, parliamentarians, and cantonal governments. This experience and these relationships help build trust and demonstrate the value that the 2038 Winter Games have for Switzerland.
Finally, a personal question: in 2020, you realized a dream by climbing the Matterhorn. What's next?
«The next big goal is to bring the 2038 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Switzerland. At the moment I don't have a personal goal comparable to climbing the Matterhorn.»
