SLEEP & SPORT, a new priority for Swiss athletes: the link between sleep quality and sports performance enters the center of a structured national debate for the first time. Wednesday On 15 January 2026, National Youth Sports Center of Tenero host SLEEP & SPORT, the first national symposium entirely dedicated to sleep health in athletes, promoted by the European Sleep Foundation.
The event, available both in person and in live streaming upon registration, is aimed at sports doctors, psychologists, coaches, athletic trainers and athletes, with the aim of filling a still evident gap in sports preparation: the systematic integration of sleep as a determining factor in performance, recovery and injury prevention.
Sleep in Athletes: Data, Risks, and Impact on Performance
The theme of the sleep in athletes emerges as a key but often overlooked element. Data indicate that approximately 25% of athletes suffer from sleep disorders, a percentage similar to that of the general population, but with particularly significant consequences in the competitive field.
According to the Prof. Dr. med. Claudio Bassetti, Chairman of the European Sleep Foundation and Swiss Brain Health FoundationSleep, along with nutrition and physical activity, is one of the three fundamental pillars of health. However, while nutrition and training are now fully integrated into sports planning, sleep's potential remains largely untapped.
Scientific evidence shows that young athletes who sleep an average of six hours a night have a risk of injury of up to 1,7 times higher compared to those who rest at least eight hoursFurthermore, over two-thirds of athletes report a worsening of sleep quality around major competitions, with direct impacts on performance.
Sleep disorders and sports injury prevention
The relationship between sleep disorders in athletes e accident prevention will be one of the central themes of the symposium. Studies presented during the day show that approximately 30% of elite Swiss athletes are dissatisfied with their sleep, a condition that negatively impacts reaction times, concentration, and recovery ability.
In this context, the sleep medicine applied to sport It emerges as an emerging discipline, called upon to dialogue ever more closely with sports medicine and performance psychology.
SLEEP & SPORT in Tenero: science, clinical practice, and field experience
The program of SLEEP & SPORT It is divided into four sessions that combine scientific research, clinical practice, and direct testimonials from the world of professional sports.
Sleep medicine applied to sport
Il Prof. Dr. med. Mauro Manconi (EOC Lugano) will present the main clinical indications for optimising sleep in athletes, while the Prof. Luigi Ferini Strambi (IRCCS San Raffaele Milano) will explore the impact of chronotype and jet lag on athletic performance.
Sports psychology, chronotype, and mental energy management
The psychological aspects will be addressed by the Dr. Vincenza Castronovo, with a focus on insomnia and pre-race anxiety, and from Jonah Morinini, which will illustrate the role of sleep in managing mental energy. Prof. Ugo Faraguna (University of Pisa) will instead present data on the relationship between chronotype and performance in youth basketball.
Technology, research and sleep monitoring
Il PhD Andrea Galbiati will analyze opportunities and risks related to sleep monitoring devices, while the Prof. Daniel Erlacher (University of Bern) will present the results of a study conducted in Tenero, strengthening the link between scientific research and the local area.
The contribution of athletes and former professionals
Alongside science, SLEEP & SPORT will give ample space to direct experience. The final round table, moderated by the journalist Stephen Ferrando with the contribution of Prof. Manconi, will see leading figures of ice hockey as protagonists such as David Aebischer (HC Lugano), Elias Bianchi (former captain HC Ambrì-Piotta), Serge Pelletier, Jesper Peltonen e Nicole Brändli, former professional cyclist.
A meeting is also planned for the afternoon with Rocco Cattaneo e Rubens Bertogliati, former cycling professionals now active as sports managers, who will share their experience in sleep management during their competitive careers.
Practical tools to improve sleep and athletic recovery
One of the concrete objectives of the symposium is to provide immediately applicable tools. During SLEEP & SPORT a will be presented brochure dedicated to sleep health in athletes, which collects recommendations based on scientific evidence: from sleep hygiene to managing training loads, from jet lag prevention to early recognition of disorders such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
For Dr. med. MPH Fabrizio Barazzoni, Director of European Sleep Foundation, investing in sleep means intervening directly on athletic recovery, injury prevention, and long-term wellness.
Streaming and Accessibility: SLEEP & SPORT for all of Switzerland
The transmission in free live streaming, upon online registration, will allow participants to follow the entire program remotely, expanding the dissemination of knowledge on sleep medicine applied to sport throughout Switzerland.
The symposium is part of the framework of the Swiss Brain Health Plan, launched in November 2023, and reflects the mission of the European Sleep Foundation, founded in Lugano in 2017, to promote sleep salutogenesis through training, research and innovation.
The involvement of the National Youth Sports Center of Tenero, Directed by Bixio Caprara, and the patronage of the State Councilor Marina Carobbio Shells underline the institutional relevance of the topic for Swiss sport.
Why investing in sleep means investing in performance
In the panorama of modern sport, the message that emerges from SLEEP & SPORT It's clear: integrating sleep into athletic training is no longer an option, but a necessity. Improving sleep quality enhances performance, reduces the risk of injury, and protects athletes' health throughout their careers.
Information
Event: Sleep & Sport
Order date: Wednesday January 15 2026
Working time: 10:30 – 18:00
Place: National Youth Sports Center, Via alle Brere 10, 6598 Tenero-Contra
Registration and information: www.sleep-sport.ch
