The German Ski Association (DSV) continues to distance itself from the world association FIS. Dealing with the issue of sustainability in particular causes controversy. DSV board member Schwarzbach criticizes that the world association is not “on the right track”.
The plans of Johan Eliasch, President of the International Ski Federation FIS, continue to cause discussions. Eliasch wants to develop and, above all, market the ski sport product more globally. Stefan Schwarzbach, Head of Communications at the German Ski Association (DSV), finds this fundamentally understandable. However, there are still rumblings between FIS and DSV.
It becomes “difficult when certain framework conditions are misunderstood or ignored,” criticized Schwarzbach in an exclusive BR24Sport interview on the sidelines of the annual outfitting of the DSV athletes in Munich.
What is meant is the advancing climate change, which does not stop at skiing. The result of this: later and less snow, even at high altitudes. The DSV therefore advocates taking advantage of the “core winter” and adapting the calendar accordingly.
Skiing has to adapt
Schwarzbach does not see skiing as a “cause of the climate crisis”, but rather as a sufferer. Nevertheless, it is clear “that we have to change in a certain way for it to work.” The world association has a different opinion and is counting on more and more races in more and more places.
“We have a very clear credo that we use the winter months and that we also use the infrastructure that is available there in such a way that we can implement it responsibly and sustainably,” said the DSV board member for communications sharply criticized the cooperation with the FIS.
“Paradigm shift” through Eliasch – and hardly any communication
“It has become very difficult in recent years to reach a common denominator because a certain paradigm shift has taken place at the FIS since Johan Eliasch became president,” said Schwarzbach: “That is very clear and we have that too “We have expressed several times that we do not agree with everything that is being presented from Oberhofen’s headquarters to the national associations – unless communication takes place.”
Schwarzbach: World association not a “top-to-down organization”
Schwarzbach believes that the FIS is not a “top-to-down organization” and would like to see a better exchange with the national associations: “We as associations have the know-how and know where the ski boots pinch, in the truest sense of the word. And we would also have the know-how within our own ranks to solve problems in such a sustainable way.”
Communication has improved somewhat in the last few months, which can also be seen in the later scheduling of the World Cup opener in Sölden (October 28th/29th). Nevertheless, for Schwarzbach there are still “enough challenges and questions, especially when it comes to sustainability, where in our view the world association is not necessarily on the right track.”
Schwarzbach sees “greenwashing” at the FIS
The FIS, which describes its competitions as “climate-positive,” is also committed to climate protection and the issue of sustainability, but is approaching it in its own way. A collaboration with the NGO Cool Earth, which fights against deforestation of the rainforest, is intended to ensure a positive balance. However, the organization’s chairman is FIS President Johan Eliasch.
For Schwarzbach, “it’s not just a matter of buying certificates and trying to greenwash yourself somehow. That’s definitely not the claim that we have as a ski association, but we want and have to be credible (…) especially with others the next generation, who are rightly critical of this”.
“Flying to America twice is not sustainable”
In addition, the DSV board would like to see long-term, sustainable planning “so that such an event can be carried out with as few resources as possible, but which can then also be used sustainably for the next week for the next generation.”
The “Achilles heel” is the transport to the venues: “Once we get there, a World Cup event like this is not the biggest climate driver or energy guzzler, but rather the journey.”
That’s why it’s clear to Schwarzbach: “Flying to America twice for the Alpine events is certainly not sustainable. The calendar could be tightened up overall.” A wish, too many former and active athletes had recently expressed.
In the video: Winter sports expert Felix Neureuther about skiing and climate change
Cooperation with ÖSV and Swiss-Ski
It was already announced in January on the sidelines of the World Cup race in Kitzbühel that the German Ski Association had entered into a cooperation with the Austrian (ÖSV) and the Swiss Association (Swiss-Ski).
Among other things, “the planning, marketing and implementation of competitions in all FIS disciplines should be coordinated and optimized”. But the collaboration is also seen as an alliance against President Eliasch. DSV, ÖSV and Swiss-Ski are moving further and further away from the world association.
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Source: BR24Sport on the radio October 25, 2023 – 8:55 a.m
