In the dispute over a possible investor entry, the head of the World Ski Association, Johan Eliasch, accused the athletes of allowing themselves to be exploited for political purposes.
After the athletes recently published two letters of protest, Eliasch said: “I do not believe that these letters were written by athletes, but by someone else whose interests do not correspond to their interests or those of the FIs.”
“Letters not be taken seriously”
The official said in an interview with the German Press Agency: “These letters simply shouldn’t be taken seriously.” Eliasch reported that he had spoken to athletes himself. “Some didn’t even know that their names were put under the letters”he said. Others didn’t understand what they were signing, the Fis boss claimed, without naming names. “Others said: I did it because I was forced to do it, but I don’t know what it’s about.”
The background to the dispute is an offer from the financial company CVC to join Fis for 400 million euros. In two letters, the athletes accused the Fis of rejecting the offer without consultation. When asked who wrote the letters if not the athletes, Eliasch replied: “I won’t speculate about that, but I think every insider knows exactly who wrote it – and it certainly wasn’t the Athletes’ Commission.”
71 signatures
The Fis president had already claimed in an ORF interview this week after the first letter that, according to his information, the names of some athletes were unknowingly included in the letter. According to the South German newspaperwhich together with the Swiss View first reported on the CVC offer, 71 athletes signed the second letter – almost twice as many as the first.
The signatories include top stars such as American World Cup record winner Mikaela Shiffrin and three-time overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt from Switzerland. The Germans Linus Straßer, Lena Dürr, Emma Aicher, Kira Weidle and Jessica Hilzinger are also there.
Eliasch: “Athletes weren’t interested”
The athletes write that they are generally frustrated and accuse the FIs of not being heard when making key decisions. Critics have attested to Eliasch’s authoritarian leadership style since his election in June 2021.
The athletes are very much involved in the processes, replied Eliasch and said: “The problem is that until last week they weren’t interested in the work we were doing and it took someone giving them the illusion that they were going to get 400 million to wake up and show interest.”
“Enough cash at FIS”
Eliasch rejects the athletes’ specific demand to put a deal with the rights marketer Infront on hold and to negotiate with CVC. The Swedish-British businessman said that the collaboration with Infront to centralize international media rights had nothing to do with a potential investor or raising capital.
The 62-year-old also made it clear: “We have enough cash at Fis.” Austria against Infront deal According to SZ, the Infront deal could soon come into effect if nine out of ten associations that organize World Cups are on board. One association has so far vehemently rejected this, says Eliasch, “and therefore this one will not be as productive as it could be.“When asked whether he meant the Austrian Ski Association, he said: “Yes, I’m talking about the Austrians.”