FIS to elect its first new leader in 23 years

June 3, 2021

It is without a doubt the most important election for the FIS for a long time.

The chosen candidate will succeed Gian-Franco Kasper who has led the organization for 23 years.

No woman has ever been president in her nearly 100-year history and one is among the four candidates.

This is Sarah Lewis who was unceremoniously and without warning sacked from her post as FIS General Secretary last year.

This could indicate that she has little chance of success.

However, she claimed in an interview that she was encouraged to stand alongside many supporters and that considering getting the job was the reason she was kicked out last year.

“Obviously, I can only assume that’s what’s behind it,” she told The Ticket, a sports show on ABC Radio.

“I was not present at the meeting where the decision was made, nor informed in advance, nor had the opportunity to really present any form of case when [there was] a discussion about my position.

“But it’s in hindsight now.

“What happened back then was of course humiliating, especially the way it was communicated.

“Having served as director and secretary general for 23 years, it was certainly a humbling road to take.”

She insists that she has no hard feelings.

The fate of Sarah Lewis and the other candidates will be determined by 123 voting delegates from the national ski associations.

They attended training sessions and participated in voting simulations ahead of Friday’s election to ensure that online voting went smoothly.

They will elect both the President and the Council of the FIS.

Twenty people present themselves to the Board, including seven new candidates.

“There is no doubt that this will be a historic day for the whole FIS family and we want to make sure that everything runs with absolute precision and professionalism,” said FIS director Philippe Gueisbuhler.

The other presidential candidates are Johan Eliasch (Sweden), nominated by UK governing body GB Snowsport, Mats Ã…rjes (Sweden) and Urs Lehmann (Switzerland).

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Ã…rjes rugs

Mats Ã…rjes joined the FIS Council in 2010 and was subsequently appointed Vice President in 2018 and appointed FIS Treasurer and Chairman of the Finance Commission in the same years.

He is President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of SkiStar AB.

In 2018, he was elected president of the Swedish Olympic Committee. From 2004 to 2008 he was General Secretary, respectively 2008 to 2018 as President of the Swedish Ski Association.

Mr Ã…rjes was active in alpine skiing in his youth, up to the elite national level, until he was forced to withdraw from competition due to injury.

Johan eliasch

Johan Eliasch has spent many years working in the sports industry, having worked in the private equity industry. He acquired the Austrian sporting goods company HEAD 25 years ago.

Beyond the world of sport, Eliasch has become a leading expert on solutions to problems caused by climate change, advising the UK government on deforestation and clean energy. In 2005, he created the Rainforest Trust, and in 2006, he co-founded Cool Earth. He has advised UK prime ministers and shadow ministers, and is currently chairman of the Global Strategy Forum policy think tank.

He has a long list of business interests and has served on several boards, including that of the British Olympic Association. He lives in London.

Urs lehmann

Urs Lehmann has been President of Swiss-Ski since 2008 and member of the Board of Directors since 2006. For 10 years he participated in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup and was a member of the Swiss national team. He won gold in the downhill at the 1993 world championships.

He was also co-commentator of Eurosport, Salomon race director and member of the board of directors of the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation Switzerland.

He is CEO and shareholder of the Similasan Group.

Sarah Lewis OBE

Sarah Lewis, who first put on skis at the age of five, has spent her life in snow sports. At the age of 15 she was training internationally and at 24 she represented Great Britain at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

After working in the ski industry and the media and spending almost four years as Alpine Director of the National Ski Association of Great Britain, Sarah joined FIS in 1994.

In 2000, after four years as Continental Cup coordinator and two years as FIS director, Lewis was appointed general secretary.

She has actively participated in competitions and events in most of the 75 FIS member countries and has been a member of the Program Commission of the International Olympic Committee, three Coordination Commissions for the Olympic Winter Games and two Games. Youth Olympic Games, and led the FIS delegation to the Olympic Winter Games.

Lewis also served as Secretary General of the Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations and Chairman of the Independent Observers of the World Anti-Doping Agency at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

FIS needs a president who can navigate between expectations and the unexpected in these difficult times for world sport#AchieveMoreTogether #FIS pic.twitter.com/WTHWJbwIth

– Sarah Lewis, OBE OLY (@SarahLewis_OBE) June 2, 2021

• The 52nd International Ski Congress is scheduled to begin at 1200 CEST (1100 BST) on Friday June 4th. It will be open to the public on the FIS YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/I31gZ2F1XlU

Or watch it below:

The winner needs the majority of the voting points.

The election could go to a second ballot since the candidate with the fewest points in the first ballot is eliminated.

Here at PlanetSKI, we’ll be following the proceedings and reporting the winner.