Floorball’s Lisa Von Arx of Switzerland and her team-mates have qualified for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu (CHN). The Swiss women secured one of the five spots up for grabs at the Women's World Floorball Championships in Singapore in December 2023.
Switzerland clinched the bronze medal of the tournament behind Sweden (gold) and Finland (silver). Czechia (4th) and Poland (5th) also qualified for The World Games 2025.
“It is a great feeling to know that Switzerland will play at such a big tournament in a great big country. It is always great for the sport, and of course for Switzerland, to be a part of such an important event and I'm looking forward to the tournament,” the 19-year-old, who also plays for the Wizards Bern Burgdorf Club, says.
After their wonderful performance in Singapore, The Floorball World bronze medallists are setting sights on an action-packed 2024-2025 season.
“Of course the goal is, at every tournament, to win. But The World Games also will give us the opportunity to play against the other countries, see how they compare and what our options against them are. We can focus on our game and how we want to play,” Von Arx explains.
The other name of this sport in her native country is Unihockey. As the Swiss Unihockey ace says, The World Games offer a unique platform to measure yourself with the world’s strongest teams.
“I would say every team who plays at The World Games is really good, so we have to play hard and good games against them. However, I think the best teams in Floorball (men & women) are Sweden, Czechia and Finland.”
“I would say The World Games are a little bit like the Olympics for Floorball. An international stage where a lot of sports and athletes gather for a big tournament,” she continues.
Von Arx, an advocate for her discipline, feels that a lot more could be done in Switzerland to promote sport in society and amongst youngsters. She is conscious her brother Timo, a Floorball player himself, has had more opportunities as a male player.
“Overall, better options to participate in Floorball should be available. An easier way to combine sport practice and education could be thought of. Better cooperation between sport schools and jobs would be great.”
“Most of the players, especially women, are working in full-time jobs and playing Floorball, because they can’t make a living just from Floorball. The infrastructure in Switzerland is not the best. We have different halls and floors but no big arenas like other countries. Some clubs have to hold their training sessions as late as 10 o'clock at night.”
“It’s clear that women's Floorball in Switzerland isn't as popular as the men’s game. They have more fans and a bigger community, which eventually leads to more opportunities and a facilitated career in the sport.”
In order to ensure her bright future, the rising player from Solothurn (SUI) combines sport and education. Her ultimate long-term goal is to be a regular player in the women’s national team.
“I am following a training course. I go to school and work in an office. It’s not a normal training course, because I have way more flexibility. I get time off in the mornings and in the afternoons, during which I can miss work and go to my training,” Von Arx explains.
“I keep my focus on both, because for me, in our sport it’s important that you continue education and learning in a job or a school. I try hard to have a good balance between the sport that I love and my job.”
“I am very ambitious and like to push myself to my limits,” she concludes.
The International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-profit-making international sports organisation recognised and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The IWGA comprises 38 International Member Sports Federations. It administers and promotes The World Games (TWG), a multi-sport event held every four years that features around 35 sports on its programme. The next edition of TWG will be in Chengdu (CHN) from 7-17 August 2025. 5,000 participants from more than 100 countries are expected to take part in this 12th edition. The latest Games were hosted by Birmingham, Alabama (USA).
For more information, please contact the IWGA Media and Communication team: [email protected], Tel: +41 21 311 12 97, or visit our website.
