Less than two months before the election, the battle is well underway for the succession of Swiss Gian-Franco Kasper to the presidency of the International Ski Federation (FIS). The first to draw is the Swede Mats Årjes. The current president of the national Olympic committee, but also vice-president of the FIS, has published his candidate manifesto. In broad terms, nothing very revolutionary, Mats Årjes' program is structured around four pillars: governance, stakeholder engagement, the environment and optimization of FIS assets. But, without fearing to aim very high, the Swede announces that he wants to install the FIS in first place among the international Olympic federations. Not less. In particular, he details his intention, in the event of victory, to carry out a vast audit of the situation of the body and the discipline, in order to identify the sectors where progress would be most immediate to be made. The presidency of the FIS is also coveted by three other contenders: the Swede Johan Eliasch, CEO of the ski and tennis brand Head; former downhiller Urs Lehmann, president of the Swiss Ski Federation; and the British Sarah Lewis, former general secretary of the FIS. The election for the presidency of the FIS must take place on June 4 in virtual mode.
