Eliasch has only one other opponent
The future of the International Skiing and Snowboarding Federation (FIS) will be decided at the highest level on Thursday at the federation’s electoral congress in the Sava Center in Belgrade. Swedish-British businessman and current president Johan Eliasch, who is running with the support of Georgia, is now challenged only by Alexander Ospelt from Liechtenstein.
Five candidates initially competed for the position of president of the International Ski Federation, but at the end of May, Anna Harboe Falkenberg from Denmark and Dexter Paine from the USA withdrew their candidacy.
Earlier this week, Victoria Gosling from Great Britain also decided to withdraw her candidacy. She ran on the British Union ticket. Thus, only two candidates remained in the fight for control of the international union. A Georgian-Liechtenstein clash for the position of the first man of world skiing is expected.
He found support in Georgia
In June 2021, at the 52nd congress of the association, Eliasch succeeded the Swiss Gian Franco Kasper, who led the organization for 23 years. At the 53rd Congress in May 2022, Eliasch ran unopposed and was elected president of the organization for a first full term until 2026, receiving 70 of 100 votes.
Four years ago, he ran for president with the support of the British Ski Association. This time, however, he was left without the support of established associations. Although he is a British-Swedish citizen, his candidacy was not submitted by either the British or Swedish federations, but is running with the support of Georgia.
Eliasch first had to obtain a Georgian passport, thus satisfying the basic formal requirements for filing a candidacy and thereby guaranteeing his chance for re-election.
Superpowers want trade
Several countries have publicly expressed their opposition to Eliasch this year, and even the winter superpowers want a change in the presidency of the umbrella association on Thursday.
The long-time general secretary of the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV), Christian Scherer, is convinced that after five years the time has come for changes. “Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Norway, the USA and Canada,” Scherer told the Austrian news agency, stating the strong opposition to the current president of the federation.
“There is a consensus. I believe many are anxiously awaiting this change, we expect it to happen.” The cross-country skier is sure that Ospelt will become the sixth president in the more than one-hundred-year history of the umbrella world skiing organization since its creation in 1924.
Ospelt was a member of the federation council for two years, and from 2016 to 2023 he chaired the ski association of the pocket state of Liechtenstein. From 2021 to 2024, he was also vice-president of the European Skiing and Snowboarding Federation (Fesa).
The Congress is also important for Slovenia
Of course, Eliasch is sure that he will lead the international association for at least another four years. He responds to critics who accuse the current president of deteriorating financial conditions by promising that the International Ski Federation will generate a total profit of 100 million euros by 2030 under his leadership.
The electoral congress in Belgrade will also be important for Slovenia. Tomaž Kunstelj, president of the board and committee for ski jumping and Nordic combined at the Skiing Association of Slovenia, is running for a member of the presidency.
Equally important will be the decision on the 2031 Nordic World Championship, which they want to hold again in Planica after the 2023 event. The opponent will be German Oberstdorf.
