Ahead of the FIS presidential election, Ski Racing Media compares Johan Eliasch and Alexander Ospelt on governance, commercial growth, media rights, athlete development, prize money and the future direction of international snow sports.
Johan Eliasch says the work at FIS is far from finished. In an exclusive interview with Ski Racing Media, the FIS president discusses media rights centralization, global growth, athlete involvement, technology, and why he is seeking another term leading international snow sports.
FIS has confirmed five candidates for president and 24 for Council seats ahead of the 2026 Congress in Belgrade, where elections will take place.
Urs Lehmann will step down as Swiss-Ski president after 17 years to become the first CEO of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation at the end of September. The 1993 downhill world champion and former FIS Council member brings decades of experience in sport and business to the new role, aiming to guide the federation through upcoming challenges.
core goals: increasing prize money for athletes and delivering direct funding to all member nations. Through a centralized broadcast deal with Infront and expanded FIS-backed distributions, every National Governing Body now receives substantial support—regardless of size or hosting status. Smaller countries like New Zealand and Greece, long excluded from commercial revenue, are now receiving €400,000 each over three years. Eliasch calls it a transformational shift aimed at strengthening snow sports worldwide.
Johan Eliasch embraced his IOC presidential run as a platform to elevate winter sports and climate action, even as Kirsty Coventry made history as the first African and female IOC president-elect. From sustainability advocacy to global cooperation, both leaders signal a new era for the Olympic Movement.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) has rejected a €400 million offer from private equity giant CVC Capital Partners. The decision, made amidst significant internal and external pushback, has sparked debate about the future of snow sports and the FIS's commercial strategy.
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Since taking charge of FIS in June 2021, Eliasch has led the organization through a period of transformation. On July 24, 2024, he earned a place as a member of the IOC. In a letter to IOC members, Eliasch outlined his vision for the future of the organization and addressed the challenges ahead.
2012 World Cup slalom champion Andre Myhrer joins the World Cup Rebels.
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