The scene was symbolic: the two courageous Haiti helpers, nurse Marianne Kaufmann and doctor Rolf Maibach, had barely been named the new "Swiss of the Year" last Saturday evening when they rushed off the stage of Zurich's Hallenstadion. No telegenic smiles, no exuberant waves, just off and away. Only when presenter Sandra Studer, the real star of the evening, called them back did they return to the glamour window and get ready for the obligatory group photo.
It was not the radiant Pascale Bruderer, the high-flyer Simon Ammann or the two tunnel builders Ogi and Leuenberger who "implanted" their way to the coveted title, but two previously completely switzerland rcs data unknown personalities, Marianne Kaufmann and Rolf Maibach. In contrast to pediatrician Beat Richner, development worker and bestselling author Lotti Latrous or heart surgeon René Prêtre, who previously won the title, the general public knows practically nothing about the new "Swiss of the Year". Which canton do they come from? What did they do before? The only indication of their commitment: the heart-rending images they showed in the earthquake hell of Haiti. What a stark contrast to the cup-filled Hallenstadion, which once a year behaves like a mini Hollywood on the Leutschenbach. But the medium of television had defeated itself last Saturday: the power of images finally crowned the "Swiss of the Year". If you like, the documentary filmmaker Patrick Schellenberg, who visited the two courageous and likeable helpers in Haiti in the spring and filmed them at work, is the secret kingmaker. Even a Gotthard tunnel, a wrestling champion and Federal Councillors hugging each other had no chance against his efforts. Somehow this is comforting. At the dinner that followed, everyone was alone again. The two prize winners were nowhere to be seen among all the Misses and TV personalities.