Ministering as a sports chaplain in Switzerland isn’t easy. In a society where religious beliefs and practices are rarely openly expressed outside private life, the sports culture appears as an especially secularized environment where God has no place. Therefore, sports federations and clubs are very reluctant to welcome or develop sports chaplaincy. However, Olympian Sandrine Ray is involved as a sports chaplain particularly in the French-speaking part of Switzerland with the Christian organization ‘Athletes in Action’. She has gained access to the athletes through major sports events and training venues, and continuing to play and train in floorball and ice hockey.
Based on Sandrine Ray’s own experience and on Olivier Bauer’s research in the sports research group at the University of Lausanne, our presentation will explain why it’s so difficult to minister as a sports chaplain in Switzerland, and what sports chaplaincy can be provided in this context. We will also present some French resources useful to develop sports chaplaincy in a secularized sports culture.