The Different Sides Of Davos

The town of Davos lies nestled in a lush valley between two Swiss mountain ranges. It snakes through the valley alongside the Landwasser River (Landwasserstrasse.) A person may get two entirely different impressions of Davos depending upon whom he asks. Davos is a city of dual personalities, so to speak. Ask a sports enthusiast or vacation buff, and one will hear of the marvelous skiing. Ask a business person or economist, and you'll hear of Davos, seat of politics, business and economy. After all, it is the host city to the most renowned economic summit in Switzerland, the World Economic Forum.

Granted, its reputation as a winter sports haven precedes Davos' suit-and-tie image by some 100 years. One of the earliest sporting events to be held there was speed skating. Davos was home to numerous speed skating championships beginning in the late 1800s.

Hockey followed closely on the heels of speed skating. The city is still home to the Spengler Cup championship. This annual tournament rivals only the Stanley Cup in longevity. It is hosted by Davos' own hockey club, which was founded in 1921. Each year between Christmas and New Year's Day the club welcomes teams from around the world.

When it comes to winter sports though, Davos is most famous for its skiing. Its reputation as a stellar ski area has been well established since the 1800s. Of course, many changes have occurred since then. New technologies have led to a ski resort town that draws thousands of tourists yearly. Investors have poured mightily into the city. It is currently a favourite holiday destination for visitors from the UK and the Netherlands, and often it's a choice for skiers who like the best between a Swiss ski holiday or ski holidays in France

In 1971, Davos adopted a new face. This one was about as far from ice hockey and skiing as a city can get. It was the face of economics. The city became host to the annual World Economic Forum. Visitors in business suits instead of ski parkas began to converge upon the valley. They have done so every year since. They include representatives from such high profile organizations as Amnesty International and Oxfam.

In fact, hundreds of organizations are represented at the World Economic Forum. The summit attracts business people, entrepreneurs, social activists, economists, educators and communicators from around the globe. They meet together to discuss solutions to poverty, injustice, war, global warming and genocide. They brainstorm ways to shape the world economy in ways that are mutually beneficial to all countries. They challenge each other to make a difference in their own homes and countries.

The World Economic Forum, a non-profit organization based in Geneva, has become a global force. It carries enormous political clout. This is due in part to its strategic positioning of political figures within the organization's governance. The foundation places influential people in positions such as the board of directors. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is one example of such a leader. This doesn't just give it leverage in all the right places. It also lends it an air of credibility in the eyes of the public.

This credibility doesn't hurt Davos' credibility either. Davos, still a winter sports Mecca, has also earned a reputation as a seat of thinkers, movers and shakers.