At the heart of interregional youth athletics

Since 2020, young athletes from track and field clubs across Romandy have been going head-to-head in the Club Cup, a series of eight competitions. After this qualifying phase, running from late May to mid-August, the top clubs gather in Lausanne for the grand final. It’s a chance to showcase promising interregional talent and maybe even catch a glimpse of future Swiss athletics stars.

From Bulle (May 31) to Yverdon (August 9), young athletes from every corner of Romandy will compete in the much-anticipated Club Cup. Open to Swiss Athletics–licensed athletes aged 14 and up, the competition features ten different disciplines in which participants can enter individually or in multiple events.

On August 17, just three days before the 50th edition of Athletissima, the eight top-scoring clubs will meet for the final showdown at the Pierre-de-Coubertin Stadium in Lausanne. Here’s a closer look at three clubs from the region and their connection to this special event.

FSG Alle ready to repeat their 2022 triumph

Sébastien Witschi, head of the athletics group (U16 and older)

“The Club Cup is a key event on our calendar, we aim to reach the final every year. It brings together the best clubs in Romandy, so doing well in the standings is a real source of pride.

There’s also the connection with Athletissima and the prestige of that international meet, which gives our young athletes a bit of a ‘preview’ experience. The final at Pierre-de-Coubertin is well-promoted, both in terms of media coverage and how it’s presented.

It’s a completely different vibe, a team competition, especially with the relays. For us at FSG Alle, it’s a bit like a mini interclub meet, and that format means a lot to us. Over the past ten years, our family-spirited club has made real progress in terms of performance.

In 2022, we won the Club Cup, it was a huge celebration, and we have amazing memories of that moment! One of our goals is to win it again someday, and not always finish just behind Lausanne-Sports Athlétisme.”

Club Cup brings the US Yverdon team closer

Emmanuelle Burkhardt, head of the performance group (U16 to U23)

“We’ll be hosting the Club Cup on August 9 in Yverdon, as part of the Romand Championships, and it’s a great time of year to hold the event since there aren’t too many meets during the summer period.

Beyond the competition itself, we use the Club Cup to strengthen bonds between our various groups, throws, sprints, younger and older athletes. Everyone trains with the shared goal of qualifying for the final on August 17 in Lausanne.

In the throwing events, for example, U16 athletes compete using equipment adapted to their category, lighter javelins and shot puts. Most of our young athletes will try to take part in this event, which means a lot to us as a club.

At the Club Cup, the more experienced athletes help and advise the younger ones, there’s a real team spirit that shines through, and it’s fantastic to see.”

Final in Lausanne is the goal for CABV Martigny

Loïs Gillioz, head of the U16 group

“In Valais, we usually compete as part of a club alliance for the Swiss Interclub Championships, so we don’t often have the chance to compete solely as CABV Martigny. The Club Cup is a great opportunity for us to come together and represent our club on our own.

In 2022, we finished sixth in the Club Cup, we especially remember the mixed 4x400m relay, which is such a great team event. That day still stands out as a special memory in Martigny.

Qualifying for the final is no easy feat, it just shows how strong the competition is among Romand clubs. We often finish around tenth place, so cracking the top eight this year would be a great achievement.

Our young athletes are strong in the long sprints and middle distance, those are areas where we can score points, but we’re also fairly versatile, which gives us a good shot across other events too.”

Learn more about the Club Cup.

Calendar Club Cup 2025: