Pulling a larger than expected crowd
The 1954 European Athletics Championships were held at Neufeld Stadium in Berne.
The event was such a huge success with the public that temporary tribunes had to be installed, at very short notice, to accommodate all 24 000 spectators. The organisers had expected merely 10 000 to 15 000 people to attend.
The performances of the two running legends Emil Zatopek and Roger Bannister were two of many highlights during the 1954 championships.
The best Swiss performers in Berne were Jean-Jacques Hegg (400 m) and Fritz Portmann (triple jump), who both placed fifth in their finals.