Threat of bad weather at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). The body chaired by Johan Eliasch must face the revolt of nearly a dozen national federations, among the most powerful and influential on the circuit. They criticize him for his desire to centralize commercial rights for the World Cup.
According to the Norwegian TV channel NRK, which revealed the affair, the opponents would have grouped together under a sort of coalition, called “ Snowflake“. It brings together Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. In short, the vast majority of European ski and snowboard heavyweights.
The conflict with the FIS does not start today. It began shortly after the election of Johan Eliasch, in June 2021, with the announcement by the leader with dual Swedish and British nationality of his wish to now control all marketing and audiovisual rights for the World Cup.
An “old” story, then. But the last episodes of which reveal a break. There NRK reports that opponents have been meeting every week since last October to discuss possible options to prevent the FIS from carrying out its project to the end. Among them, the direct sale to broadcasters and sponsors of commercial and television rights to their events.
They could even, as the ultimate threat, join forces to create a parallel circuit, competing with the World Cup.
The broadcasters, very concerned by the subject, have also increased the number of meetings in recent weeks to try to find a common position and weigh in on the debate.
Still according to the Norwegian channel, the coalition of European countries is not opposed in principle to centralization by the FIS of World Cup rights. But she criticizes Johan Eliasch for his management of the file, which is not transparent and democratic in their eyes. Opponents also say they are hostile to the way the FIS plans to market its events.
A meeting was held on Wednesday February 21 between the FIS and several national federations, Scandinavian in particular. The body was represented by Johan Eliasch, secretary general Michel Vion, and commercial director Christian Salomon.
Little information has filtered the nature of the exchanges and the atmosphere of the meeting. But Pernilla Bonde, the general secretary of the Swedish Ski Association, assured the NRK : “We had a constructive meeting with the FIS. We agreed to meet again in a few weeks. » The Swede also assured that the opponents wanted above all to reach an agreement with the FIS.
