Augsburger Appointed as Sochi ’14 Sporting Director

Head of Switzerland’s National Hockey League (NHL) Werner Augsburger is to quit his role in order to take up the position of sporting director of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, it was announced today.

Augsburger, 52, will start his new role in September and claimed it was a chance too good to miss, stating: “The confidence placed in me by the Russian Organising Committee is a great honour.

“As a longtime sports official in various management functions, this offers a unique opportunity.

“It is probably comparable to a Swiss ice hockey player who gets the chance to play in the [North American] National Hockey League.”

Augsburger has held a number of top roles in sport, including being Switzerland’s Chef de Mission at three consecutive Olympics – the Summer Games in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and the Winter Games in Turin 2006.

He was also the chief of logistics of the Swiss team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.