Switzerland boycotted the 1956 Summer Olympics events held in Melbourne in protests of the Soviet invasion of Hungary, but participated in the equestrian events for those Games held in Stockholm, Sweden earlier that year, where the Swiss dressage team won the bronze medal.

Switzerland is the home of the International Olympic Committee, its headquarters based in Lausanne.

Switzerland sent one gymnast to the first Games in 1896; Louis Zutter won the pommel horse and finished second in the vault and parallel bars.

Switzerland had one shooter in one event at the inaugural 1896 Games, placing eighth.

In 1900, the Swiss dominated the shooting competitions and took 5 out of the 9 gold medals including both of the team championships.