SEPT 20 - 22, 2024 | BERLIN
The state-of-the-art Child and Adolescent House (CAH) at the Geneva University Hospital, features two sports halls, which will be fitted with specialized equipment to assist with the physical recovery of young people.
The Laver Cup’s support for the project comes on the recommendation from both the Canton of Geneva’s Department of social cohesion and the City of Geneva’s Department of culture and sports, which will be showcased at the event to illustrate the far-reaching vision of CAH.
The contribution includes proceeds from the Laver Cup Open Practice, which took place the yesterday (Thursday September 19), with more than 6,000 children and families in attendance.
The stars of both teams received a warm welcome from the crowd, with the 2019 US Open champion Rafael Nadal and Switzerland’s own Roger Federer receiving the loudest cheers from the enthusiastic audience.
“We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic new facility for children in Geneva,” said Laver Cup CEO, Steve Zacks.
“The Laver Cup has a goal to support community initiatives that impact kids’ lives in each city we visit.
“This facility will be a wonderful benefit to the community and the Laver Cup is proud to be involved and support this significant project.”
Situated in the heart of Geneva within the University Geneva Hospital network, the $75 million CAH is due for completion in 2022 and strives to become a center for excellence for paediatric mental health and adolescent medicine in Switzerland.
As well as serving young people’s medical needs, the CAH will become a world-class health education center and give patients access to cultural, artistic and sports activities.
The two sports halls at the CAH include a multi-purpose space for a variety of sports and physical activities including tennis, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, archery, juggling and wall climbing.
The Laver Cup’s donation will go towards equipping the cardio-training room with equipment such as treadmills, rowers and recumbent bikes.
These sports rooms will also be open to schoolchildren for weekly gymnastic activities.
“Children who are hospitalized have reduced physical activity,” said Professor Alain Gervaix, Head of the Department of Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics at University Hospital.
“However, studies indicate that those who stay active recover faster. This equipment will help them during, and after, their illness.”
The CAH focuses on the city and its environment, opening to the public with meeting spaces and discoveries between the hospital and cultural, associative and sporting communities of Geneva.
“We are grateful to have the support of the Laver Cup, which also embodies new dimensions in sport and seeks to make an impact on the cities it visits,” Professor Gervaix said.
The Laver Cup began in 2017 in Prague and continued in Chicago in 2018. The third edition in Geneva is set to enthral fans when international tennis stars gather to represent Team Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg, and Team World, led by John McEnroe.
The high-octane event was created to recognize the feats of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, who won two calendar year Grand Slams, in 1962 and 1969.
The Laver Cup Fan Zone is open from 10am until 10pm (or 30 minutes after the end of the last match) on each day of play.
Tickets for Fan Zone this weekend are available from www.ticketcorner.ch.
