The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) governing body now has a new president, Liechtenstein's Alexander Ospelt.
He was voted in at the FIS' 2026 congress in Belgrade earlier this week, and will replace his controversial predecessor, Sweden's Johan Eliasch.
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Ospelt secured 65 votes from the various FIS national ski associations, with Eliasch only bringing in 64 – marking one of the closest ever ballot processes through which the FIS has decided its president.
Only a few days before the election, the FIS' chief executive, Urs Lehmann, resigned, amidst strong rumours of a substantial rift between him and Eliasch.
German publication Blick reported that Lehmann and Eliasch (who was a controversial president in the eyes of many observers) bitterly disagreed on matters including the organisation’s finances.
Eliasch was first elected for a shortened one-year term in 2021, before being re-elected for a full, four-year term in May 2022 (unopposed).
That 2022 election ended up being referred to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, after four national ski federations complained about what they saw as several examples of improper procedure during the election process.
Ospelt, a lawyer and a long-standing member of the FIS Council, has campaigned on a platform of increasing transparency levels around the body's governance, and of improving relations with the national ski associations.
Post-victory, he commented: "There’s been some great dialogue in the build-up to this congress, and it’s been very interesting to talk to representatives from all different countries, but the result shows we’re still divided. I see this division as a chance, rather than a problem. My first task will be bringing unity and a common ambition to drive FIS forward together.”
He added: "There’s a lot of work to do, but I want every NSA to feel like now is a new start, that I will take all their concerns seriously and that every NSA must be treated with the same importance as any other.”
In FIS commercial news, June has already seen the governing body renew its major commercial tie-up with German automotive brand Audi.
Through a deal extension beginning immediately and running through 2030 (the Olympic Games cycle), Audi will continue as title sponsor for the FIS Alpine World Cup over that cycle, as well as a partner of the Alpine World Ski Championships.
