The International Ski and Snowboard Federation will have a new president on Thursday… or not. In office since 2021, Johan Eliasch is seeking a second term. A year after his defeat in the IOC presidential election, the British-Swedish politician is once again facing the voters, this time to remain at the helm of the FIS. No easy task.
A divisive method
The FIS president did not enter the campaign in the best of circumstances. He received no support from either Great Britain or Sweden, two countries of which he is a citizen. The British federation had backed him in 2021, but this time decided to promote Victoria Gosling's candidacy. Required by the regulations to represent a federation, Johan Eliasch reportedly sought support from Armenia, according to several media outlets, before ultimately obtaining a Georgian passport. A strange maneuver, which reflects a certain lack of support for him.
In 2022, despite having no opponent, he only garnered 70 votes out of a possible 126. This was a sign that his vision was not universally accepted. Criticism came from major nations, such as Switzerland and Austria. Peter Schröcksnadel, former president of the Austrian Football Federation, stated in 2024 that he regretted " deeply grateful for having supported Johan Eliasch in 2021 He specifically pointed to its lack of vision regarding sustainability, since the calendar forces athletes to make several trips between Europe and North America each winter.
Also in 2024, he had to deal with the incomprehension of some sixty athletes who had signed a letter questioning the rejection of a €400 million deal with CVC. We are simply asking for more transparency and more consideration. We want our voices and the offers on the table that influence the future of our sport to be better taken into account. "explained superstar Mikaela Shiffrin. In recent weeks, Swiss star Marco Odermatt has also criticized the president's record.
Regular criticisms have also been leveled regarding safety and the lack of significant progress in this area. In Formula 1, " Safety has evolved enormously. In our sport, that's not the case., Alexis Pinturault told RMC Sport last fall. The FIS is willing, but we must now move forward because the sport continues to progress and injuries continue to occur. "A delicate context for the outgoing president, despite the unanimous success of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.
"A stronger, more dynamic and more united FIS"
In his 42-page candidacy document, the outgoing president defends his record: introduction of a CO2 calculator, centralization of TV rights until 2034, integration of the Freeride World Tour and para disciplines within the FIS, doubling of the number of major sponsors, launch of the FIS TV platform, etc. The transformation we began in 2021 is real. It's working. But this is just the beginning. " announces Eliasch. He promises to work to ensure that as many disciplines as possible are included in the Olympic program, specifically mentioning freeride, to develop events combining art, music and culture, to establish stricter rules regarding the use of recycled and recyclable materials, etc.
He also reiterated the need for innovation, particularly to transform the spectator experience and the media product, with more interaction. He plans to leverage data and artificial intelligence to ensure that digital content represents at least 35% of FIS revenue. If you give me your vote, I will fully commit to the task we have undertaken: strengthening the autonomy of each member nation, protecting our athletes, and ensuring that snow sports continue to fascinate and inspire future generations., he wrote. Together, we will shape a stronger, more dynamic and more united FIS: by pushing boundaries, encouraging innovation and aiming higher than ever before. "It's up to the voters to decide."
