The bright and dark sides of sport
This is the title of a documentary produced at the CST as part of the project “I speak another language, but I understand you” (PUAL). Students from three upper-secondary schools representing Switzerland’s three language regions worked together on the film through interviews and reflections involving figures from the Swiss and international sporting world.
The PUAL project, promoted by Coscienza Svizzera with the support of Radiotelevisione svizzera italiana and the Federal Office of Culture, was created to encourage interaction, collaboration and mutual understanding among young people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Through working together, the participants were able to engage with one another not only on a linguistic and cultural level, but also creatively and personally, while developing practical skills in multimedia production.
Between sport, media and innovation
The 2025/26 edition, dedicated to the theme of sport, involved around 70 participants in a series of activities held at the CST. During the production phase, the students had the opportunity to interview various figures from the world of sport and take part in creative workshops focusing on video production. Some of these workshops also incorporated innovative artificial intelligence tools.
The fieldwork generated around 30 hours of audiovisual material, which was subsequently edited by RSI into a final 69-minute documentary. The interviewees included numerous athletes and experts, among them Noè Ponti, Jonathan Sabbatini, Stefano Sarina, Edo Carrasco, Luca Cereda, Ajla Del Ponte, Americo Fernandes, Enrico Ferretti, Herb Johnson, Simona Ghisletta, Ricky Petrucciani and Gaëlle Thalmann, along with other figures from the world of sport who helped explore the project’s theme in greater depth. Each of them went beyond the sporting dimension and shared their personal life experiences with the young participants.
From fieldwork to the premiere
The CST played a central role both from a logistical and organisational perspective and as a place for people to meet and exchange ideas. The centre’s facilities, the quality of its sports infrastructure and its natural surroundings all helped create an even more enjoyable environment. By alternating working sessions with sports and recreational activities, the project offered a setting that was particularly appreciated by the participants.
The documentary was then premiered at the CST during an evening attended by some of the athletes who had been interviewed, the students involved in the project, as well as friends, family members and parents. The event provided an important opportunity to share the journey and the work carried out throughout the project. The film was very well received, generating interest and appreciation both for the quality of its content and for the value of the experience gained by the young participants.
Multilingualism, collaboration and personal growth
The participants responded very positively to the experience. The students expressed their appreciation for the openness and spontaneity of the athletes they interviewed, the collaborative atmosphere among the different language groups and the human value of the project.
Multilingualism proved to be one of the most significant aspects of the experience: the young people worked together in several languages on a daily basis, often also using English, and developed practical communication skills through direct experience.
The documentary now stands as a testament to the educational and cultural value of the initiative, confirming the CST’s role as a key place for young people from across Switzerland to meet, develop and learn.
The documentary will be available to watch on Play RSI from September 2026.
Text: Martina Ponti
Photos: Fiorenzo Mordasini