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Lausanne is without doubt the ideal city to host the world orienteering championships in 2012. There are, of course, many reasons for this.

Lausanne at the heart of Europe Lausanne, a garden city Perched above Lake Geneva, surveying the Alps, set between the La Côte and Lavaux vineyards, Lausanne is also one of Europe’s greenest cities, a winner of numerous awards, with its gardens, parks and forests imparting a sense of calm and peace to those who visit it and who live there.

Lausanne, a town on a human scaleWith a population of 125,000 at the heart of an agglomeration of 250,000 inhabitants, 80,000 of whom hail from elsewhere, Lausanne enjoys the range of services of a western metropolis, whilst keeping its human dimensions.

Lausanne, where all roads meetLausanne benefits from a prime location at the heart of the European transport system. It is a hub of major international road, rail and air links, offering exceptional international connections.








By air

Lausanne is 60 km from Geneva airport and 230 km from Zurich-Kloten intercontinental airport. These airports are served by numerous airlines providing on average over 200 flights a day to worldwide destinations.

These two main airports are directly linked to the national rail network. Lausanne is thus situated 42 minutes from Geneva airport (3 connections per hour) and 2hrs 40 from Zurich-Kloten airport (2 connections per hour).

By train

Lausanne is situated at the junction of two major European lines:
London – Paris – Lausanne – Milan – Rome
Barcelona – Lyon – Geneva – Lausanne – Zurich – Munich

More than 40 daily international high-speed rail links (TGV and Pendolino) serve Lausanne station.

Lausanne, administrative capital of international sportMore than 20 international sports federations or associations have chosen to be based in Lausanne and the surrounding region. The same has applied to the Court of Arbitration for Sport since its creation in 1984. Whilst contributing to the process of the internationalisation of sport in Lausanne, these federations benefit from their physical proximity to Olympic institutions and the opportunities for contact with those running them. These opportunities were further boosted with the opening of the Maison du Sport International in 2006.

Lausanne, a long tradition of sporting events Lausanne has built up a strong international reputation as an organiser of sporting events, whether for the masses or the elite, whether one-offs or annual fixtures. Between 1988 and 2008, some twenty European and world championships were organised within its walls. Lausanne also boast s a large and varied park of sports installations.



Lausanne, city of tourism and conventionsWith an efficient transport network, adapted installations and top-ranking professionals, Lausanne is a well-known destination for the organisation of seminars and conventions. Traditional venues and chains, holiday or business hotels, from 1 to 5 stars. Lausanne is also a centre of tourism where everyone is a privileged guest.

Lausanne, city of education and technologyWith in excess of 20,000 students divided between its university and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne plays host to institutes and schools of international repute on Switzerland’s largest campus. It is also the headquarters of the renowned Lausanne Hotel School, and of numerous post-graduate training centres (Institute for Management Development – IMD, Graduate School of Public Administration – IDHEAP).

Lausanne, city of history and culture Witnesses to a rich past, guardians of modern culture in all its guises, some twenty museums are open to visitors: history, science, fine arts, contemporary art, photography. Not to mention the amazing and famous collection of Art brut and the Swiss Cinematheque. Lausanne also stands for the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, the Opera, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra and internationally renowned DJs.

Lausanne, Olympic CapitalHaving been the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee since 1915, Lausanne enjoys close links with the Olympic world and its institutions. Thus, to mark its centenary in 1994, the IOC awarded it the unique title of “Olympic Capital”. In 1993, the Olympic Museum, showcase of the IOC, was inaugurated at the centre of a park across from Lake Geneva.