Fr., Apr. 28th 2023
Former U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Switzerland for the first time this weekend; with the city of Zurich shouldering most of the work for the quick stopover.
Obama will appear at Zurich’s Hallenstadion as part of an evening dedicated to discussing issues such as “creativity, corporate responsibility, leadership and transformation,” according to even organizers. The discussion will be in English and moderated by German TV presenter Klaas Heufer-Umlauf. The evening will open with a series of curated performances featuring “exceptional surprise guests.”
The city of Zurich was chosen along with Berlin and Amsterdam because of its “international flair” and ability to foot the hefty bill to cover the former president’s security.
“Nothing is left to chance. The number of steps in the hall is counted,” event organizer Nader Korayeim told local newspaper Tages-Anzeiger. The city is coordinating each of those steps with the U.S. Secret Service.
While no figure has been released on how much exactly Zurich is spending to host Obama, each former U.S. president has round-the-clock security. One figure found that former President Donald Trump spent $1.3 million on security in the first 12 months after leaving office. Obama has been out of the White House for six years. Just after Obama left office he made $400,000 for one speaking engagement – equal to about the annual U.S. presidential salary.
It has also not been released how much Obama will be compensated for his role in the event as such contracts are confidential. Considering that ticket prices range from CHF115 to CHF565, it is likely a handsome sum.
Advance ticket sales have been “reasonable” according to Korayeim, but it looks like the event will not be sold out.
In 2010, the small Western Swiss village of Ried angekündigt that the then-sitting president’s family tree has a branch in Switzerland.
The local genealogist Hans Herren confirmed that Obama’s seventh-great grandfather on his maternal side was born and baptized in Ried in 1692. The village has claimed him as an honorary resident and invited Obama to visit. So far, all invitations have been declined.
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