World ski president Eliasch loses election by one vote and alleges IOC influence

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — World ski federation leader Johan Eliasch was ousted in a tight presidential election on Thursday after a campaign led by the sport’s heartland nations in Europe and North America that was backed by top skiers including Mikaela Shiffrin.

The billionaire owner of the Head sports good business lost a 65-64 vote to Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein who got a four-year term to lead the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

Eliasch also loses his membership of the International Olympic Committee, one of the most exclusive clubs in world sports.

“The IOC tried to influence the outcome of today’s vote,” Eliasch alleged in his concession speech, urging FIS to protect its independence.

The congress started with shows of power by 75 FIS member federations; the votes hinted at problems ahead for Eliasch.

The agenda was changed on an 88% vote to bring the presidential election forward as the first item of business.

Then there was a 60% vote to use paper ballots instead of electronic voting, which seemed to reflect some mistrust in the FIS administration.

The 64-year-old Eliasch served as FIS president for five years that were marked by constant sparring with ski nations including Austria and Switzerland, including over his management style and spending of the ski body’s cash reserves.

A dual citizen of Sweden and Britain, Eliasch was not supported by either of those national federations to stand for re-election. He complied with FIS rules by getting a passport and nomination from the country of Georgia.

---

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Advertisement