Liechtenstein's Ospelt Succeeds Controversial Eliasch

The counting of the ballots—75 nations cast a total of 129 votes—revealed the closest possible result. Ospelt received 65 votes, securing exactly the necessary absolute majority, while Eliasch received 64 votes.

With Ospelt, elected for a four-year term, at the helm, representatives of the major national federations hope that the FIS can be steered back into calmer waters, and that calm, objectivity, and transparency can be restored to the governing body of international snow sports.

Eliasch had alienated his colleagues on the FIS committees and the representatives of many affiliated federations with his business conduct and his style of leading the federation. His unilateral actions and decisions—often made without consulting other decision-makers—caused friction and ultimately led to a rift.

The most significant of the many points of criticism turned out to be the financial situation of the FIS, which was visibly deteriorating—prompting representatives from Ski Austria and Swiss-Ski, among others, sound the alarm, warning that the world federation faced the risk of collapse if business practices remained unchanged.

The warnings did not fail to have an effect. Even smaller federations—whose votes had helped Eliasch win the presidential election five years ago, notably against the then-Swiss-Ski chairman Urs Lehmann—no longer saw a future with the Swedish-British businessman at the helm. Apparently, Eliasch’s harshest critics succeeded in convincing even many of his former supporters that a fresh start was needed and that a return to proven values was indispensable for a successful future of the FIS.

The relief following the announcement of the election results was correspondingly great. With Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer with a doctorate and his own law firm in Schaan, the era of turmoil is set to come to an end, and the FIS is to be led once again in the best interests of the sport. The former president of the Liechtenstein Ski Association is already very familiar with the FIS. He has been a member of the Council for two years.