Johan Eliasch has apparently organized a Georgian passport in order to be able to run for re-election as FIS President. However, resistance is growing.
You have to give it to Johan Eliasch: Since he became president of the international ski and SnowboardFIS, the elections there offer great excitement. In 2021, when he was enthroned, he created a spirit of optimism: a career changer from business, a billionaire with him Jet set-Life – he was once with Hollywood-Icon Sharon Stone romantically involved. He was a great hope for modernizing the encrusted world association.
But he quickly antagonized major skiing nations from Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. They criticized an authoritarian leadership style, a lack of compromise and poor communication. The result was a boycott of the election in May 2022: In protest that a no vote against the only candidate Eliasch was not possible, 47 of the 117 delegates left the room.
Eliash loses former advocates
However, the remaining votes were enough for Eliasch to be re-elected. He continued to rule for four years – but without being able to smooth things over. On the contrary, some previous advocates have moved away from him, for example the British association. It was he who nominated Eliasch in 2021 and 2022.
The association is sending its members for the election that is now taking place on June 11th CEO Victoria Gosling as a candidate in the race. However, the statutes of the world association stipulate that presidential candidates have the support of a nation from which they have a passport.
Georgia steps in and nominates Eliasch
Eliasch’s problem: his country of birth, Sweden, didn’t want to nominate him either. So what to do? Some would withdraw discreetly, but that doesn’t suit Eliasch. His approach to this dilemma confirms what many people say about him: When he sets his mind to something, he follows through with it and pulls out all the stops.
Eliasch apparently wants to remain FIS President at all costs, so he would also retain his membership in the International Olympic Committee (IOC). So he tried to get another passport; he is said to have tried several countries. In the end, he found support in Georgia – and is now entering the election campaign as their candidate.
Doubts about the independence of the FIS committee
However, whether he was actually able to present a Georgian passport as required 60 days before the election is one of the questions that the FIS nomination committee must now clarify. It will decide by May 20th which candidates will be admitted to the election.
However, there are doubts in the skiing community about the independence of this body. The Brit is in the chair Rory Tapner in 2021, he organized the election campaign for Eliasch. Apart from him, there are only two other members, one comes from Monaco, Eliasch’s adopted hometown. There is still no announced fourth member from athlete circles.
Former Eliasch supporters compete yourself
The list of presidential candidates suggests that the owner of the ski manufacturer Head has lost other former supporters, including Dexter Paine. When Eliasch was starting out, the American praised his plans in a sports show interview. Now he is running as a candidate himself and writes in his FISwebsite published candidate dossier: “The FIS must be an association in which every member and every athlete feels heard, respected and included in shaping the future.”
Conversely, this means that this was obviously not the case under Eliasch. The dossiers of the other three opposing candidates also address many of the points that Eliasch is accused of, although often only behind closed doors. This is what the British Gosling writes: “In conversations within our community, I have heard clearly what the associations want and need. More transparency about how funds are generated and distributed. Clearer communication before important decisions are made.”
Opposing candidates also from Liechtenstein and Denmark
Alexander Ospelt from Liechtenstein calls for the tasks and responsibilities of the President, the Councils and administration must be clearly defined and properly separated. “And an internal control committee must monitor this on an ongoing basis.”
FIS presidential candidate Alexander Ospelt
Anna Harboe Falkenberg from Denmark describes her conclusions after two years of membership in the FIS Council: “I learned that the more we work together as a team while respecting each other’s differences and opinions, the better we can advance our sport.”
The opposition is still holding back
However, it is still unclear what tactics the major ski nations from Europe, the core opposition, are using. Nobody wanted to comment yet. Germany and Co. have a great influence in the election because their votes count three times. But the smaller associations also have an important say, even if they only have one voice and are often hardly active in skiing. But there are many of them – and experience has shown that they are receptive to the promises of a sitting president.
Eliasch’s opponents probably only have a chance if they rally behind a candidate. The election requires an absolute majority of more than 50 percent of the votes. If no candidate manages to do this in the first round of voting, further rounds follow in which the person with the fewest votes is eliminated.
Unclear financial situation
So it will remain exciting until June 11th, especially since many paint a devastating picture of the FIS finances, which do not match the superlatives in which Eliasch speaks of his association. Just a few of the allegations: There is still a lack of major sponsors, while at the same time expenses have increased enormously – in administration and court costs.
According to reports in the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the processes surrounding the dissolution of the former “FIS Marketing AG” (Fismag) were particularly serious. Two instances ruled against the FIS, which can now go to the Swiss Federal Court, but has to transfer almost five million euros in advance to the former Fismag shareholder Christian Pirzer.
When Eliasch started, he envisioned golden times with international growth and prize money like tennis. The FIS is far from that. Apparently only a few people know what the financial situation actually is, and here too there are complaints insider lack of transparency. The picture will probably only become clearer when there is a change in the presidential chair.
