Johan Eliasch ousted as FIS president by single vote; Alexander Ospelt wins after campaign by ski heartland nations

A razor-thin vote in Belgrade

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) congress in Belgrade opened with two procedural votes that signaled trouble for incumbent president Johan Eliasch. Delegates voted 88% to move the presidential election to the top of the agenda, then 60% opted for paper ballots instead of electronic voting, a move that reflected mistrust in the FIS administration. An external lawyer oversaw the 50-minute vote, and the count took 45 minutes.

When the tally was announced, challenger Alexander Ospelt, a lawyer from Liechtenstein, had defeated Eliasch by a single vote: 65 to 64. Ospelt secured a four-year term. Eliasch, the billionaire owner of the Head sports goods company, had led FIS since 2021.

“I would like to thank everyone for their trust. I will be a president for all of you. Let us be united for our sport.”

The campaign against Eliasch

Major ski nations including Austria, Switzerland, the United States, and Germany had positioned themselves against Eliasch in the weeks before the congress. They criticized his communication style, saying he made decisions without consultation. Wolfgang Maier, alpine director of the German Ski Federation (DSV), said Eliasch had "no idea." The DSV won a legal dispute against Eliasch over his plan to centrally market all winter sports.

Swiss-Ski president Peter Barandun expressed relief after the result. "We are incredibly happy. In the future we can talk about sport again and develop the sport further. The political discussions are a thing of the past," he said. Barandun acknowledged the margin was tighter than expected, noting Eliasch had managed to win over smaller federations.

“He did not manage to get the most important stakeholders on board.”

Athletes join the criticism

Top skiers had also turned against Eliasch. Mikaela Shiffrin, Marco Odermatt, and Lucas Pinheiro Braathen accused the outgoing president of lacking transparency and egoism. "Much of what the current FIS leadership promised is not being implemented," Shiffrin said. The athletes wanted a change at the top of the federation.

Financial troubles and a Georgian passport

Under Eliasch's presidency, FIS faced mounting financial difficulties. According to a report by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the once well-funded federation was recording millions in losses. Swiss newspaper Blick reported that FIS CEO Urs Lehmann had given up his post over the issue. The federation's assets reportedly decreased by more than 80 million Swiss francs during Eliasch's term.

Eliasch lost backing from both his home federations, Sweden and the United Kingdom, neither of which nominated him for re-election. To comply with FIS rules, he obtained Georgian citizenship and secured a nomination from Georgia. Asked about his connection to the country, he told dpa: "I have been there. It is a country I like very much."

Eliasch alleges IOC interference

The defeat also cost Eliasch his membership in the International Olympic Committee. In his concession speech, he alleged outside influence. "The IOC tried to influence the outcome of today's vote," he said, urging FIS to protect its independence. Barandun declined to comment extensively on the accusation but noted Eliasch's poor relationship with the IOC was no secret.

“For me it was a win-win situation. Either I get my life back, or I win the election.”

What comes next

Ospelt, who holds a doctorate in law and runs his own firm in Schaan, has served on the FIS executive committee since 2024. He was previously president of the Liechtenstein Ski Association. Barandun praised Ospelt's ability to win over his environment and promised Swiss-Ski's full support. The new president inherits a federation with a damaged image and precarious finances. Also at the congress, Jean-Philippe Rochat of Switzerland was re-elected to the FIS Council for a further two years.