For the event on the Aletsch Glacier at 3,560 metres above sea level, a basketball court of 33.55 metres by 20.78 metres was constructed, and two teams of five players each played a classic game. The professionals were not put off by the thin air. Tony Parker is known for his speed for a very good reason, and he rapidly whipped the ball past his co-players on the Top of Europe. In the show match, renowned Swiss basketball players competed against the NBA star of the San Antonio Spurs.
After the game, Tony Parker answered questions from the media. The professional French player said, "I am all for new challenges. As Tissot, my partner of many years, suggested playing on the Top of Europe, I considered it a fantastic opportunity to do something extraordinary. We don't often have the opportunity to play under such extreme conditions." Over 100 journalists who had travelled from Asia, Europe, Australia, America and Switzerland witnessed the match on the Top of Europe. Another prominent guest was the successful motorcyclist and Tissot brand ambassador, Tom Lüthi.
Partnership with Tissot
It's no coincidence that a brand ambassador of Tissot appeared with Tony Parker on the Jungfraujoch. With their renewed collaboration, Jungfrau Railways and Tissot underline their successful partnership of many years, which was established at the Jungfrau Railways 100-year celebrations. The previous year, the Jungfrau Railways CEO Urs Kessler and Tissot president François Thiébaud moved their collaboration up a level with the inauguration of the peak attraction "First Cliff Walk" and the opening of a Tissot shop on Grindelwald-First. Tissot president François Thiébaud explained, "We are very proud of our partnership. It is a great honour and a joy for us to share the beauty of such an extraordinary location as Jungfrau Railways in the Swiss Alps and the fresh Swiss air with our faithful brand ambassador, Tony Parker, and in turn the talent of our ambassador with our partner, Jungfrau Railways. Tissot is a large family and we love to bring people together as we have done today."
Top athletes for the tenth time
Several sports events have already been held with world-famous athletes on the Jungfraujoch. The basketball game with NBA star Tony Parker is the tenth run of these events. "It's always a particular challenge to bring internationally recognised top sports people to the Aletsch Glacier," said the CEO of Jungfrau Railways, Urs Kessler, after today's event and added, "After football, tennis, boxing, cricket and basketball, I am dreaming of another type of sport for next year that is still missing from our list."
Tony Parker – Tissot brand ambassador
Tony Parker is one of the most successful basketball players of all time. He is a French basketball professional who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With the Spurs, Parker won a total of four NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. Thanks to his speed and high-scoring percentage in the game, he was nominated for six NBA All-Star games, three All-NBA Second Teams and an All-NBA Third Team. Parker was also the star of the French national team until he left in 2016.
