Ittigen, 21 June. Marc-André Giger, the Swiss Olympic Executive Director since November 2006, has said he will quit the Swiss umbrella organisation for sport next 1 September 2010. Among his numerous achievements, Swiss Olympics marketing linked financial resources have grown by 30% and the fight against doping has gained independence.

He has further contributed to a consolidation of ties between Swiss Olympic and the Swiss Sports Aid Foundation, the institution that promotes young sports talents.

 Marc-André Giger has also distinguished himself in sports politics, notably by ensuring that the Confederation increase its contribution to the fight against doping by an annual million francs (close on Euro 730,000) as of 2010, and also when he managed to block a new value added tax (VAT) that would have made volunteering in sport impossible. He also masterminded the new Swiss elite sport concept that encapsulates the countrys new policy towards the promotion of top level sport as a whole.

 With the needs posed by the run-up to the London 2012 summer Games and the Sochi 2014 winter Games in mind, Marc-André Giger has chosen to let someone else take over in good time, giving him the chance to address new professional goals.