World ski federation leader Johan Eliasch was ousted in a tight presidential election on Thursday after a campaign led by the sport’s heartland nations in Europe and North America that was backed by top skiers including Mikaela Shiffrin.
New President Elected
The billionaire owner of the Head sports goods business lost a 65-64 vote to Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein who got a four-year term to lead the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). Eliasch also loses his membership of the International Olympic Committee, one of the most exclusive clubs in world sport.
In his concession speech, Eliasch aimed an allegation at the Olympic body and urged FIS to protect its independence before congratulating Ospelt. “The IOC tried to influence the outcome of today’s vote. Against this we must stay firm,” Eliasch said.
The FIS congress in the Serbian capital Belgrade started with shows of power by 75 member federations; the votes hinted at problems ahead for Eliasch. The agenda was changed on an 88% vote to bring the presidential election forward as the first item of business.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
