Maldives is ‘sweet like chocolate’ to Roger Federer

Switzerland’s most famous son Roger Federer has revealed that he prefers to swap a traditional chocolate box Christmas in the Alps for sunshine and cocktails in “paradise”.

At this time of the year history-rich Zurich, famed for the Lindt Chocolate factory is illuminated in ever-changing Christmas scenes for the holidays. Many will be spending a Christmas break in the Alps, yet this Swiss man prefers to spend his yuletide “somewhere warm”.

“This summer it was the Mediterranean, but I also love the Maldives,” the 29-year-old tennis ace told the Toronto Sun.

“We, (my wife and our twin toddler daughters, and I) also get away into the mountains of Switzerland whenever possible.”

Winner of the ATP World Tour Finals 2010, as well as a host of other medals including holding the world record for a consecutive 237 days, Federer is a tour de force at Wimbledon, second only to Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who knocked him off the top spot last year.

Yet despite his sporting genius Federer is modest, gracious and friendly - qualities for which the Swiss are famed for around the world. As well as a sportsman he is also a humanitarian, dubbed Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for his efforts to raise money for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

Perhaps, with his admission of his love for the Maldives, and his humanitarian disposition, his positive comments on the Maldives can help to rebuild the Swiss’ perception of the Maldives, following the Swiss couple debacle earlier this year.

As politicians seek ways of furthering economic ties between the Switzerland and Maldives, “a large number of Swiss tourists continue to travel to the Maldives annually,” according to the President.

Newly appointed Ambassador appointed to the Swiss Government for the Maldives Iruthisham Adam met President of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard and Ambassador Beat Nobs, head of Political Division of the Swiss Foreign Ministry.

For the Maldives and Switzerland game to become a match set in heaven, understanding, humanitarianism and perhaps even a bit of tennis may help bolster these ties.

(Source: Maldivian Traveller)