Dispute at Fis escalates: Ski boss dismisses athletes’ protest: “Not to be taken seriously”

In the increasingly escalating dispute over a possible investor entry, World Ski Federation head Johan Eliasch has accused the athletes of allowing themselves to be exploited for political purposes. After the athletes recently published two letters of protest, Eliasch said: “I don’t believe that these letters were written by athletes, but by someone else whose interests do not correspond to their interests or those of the FIs.” The top official said in an interview with the German Press Agency: “These letters simply cannot be taken seriously.”

Eliasch reported that he had spoken to athletes himself. “Some didn’t even know their names were put on the letters,” he said. Others didn’t understand what they were signing, the Fis boss claimed, without naming names. “Others said: I did it because I was forced to do it, but I don’t know what it’s about.”

Eliasch: The letter actually doesn’t come from athletes

The background to the dispute is an offer from the financial company CVC to join Fis for 400 million euros. In two letters, the athletes accused the Fis of rejecting the offer without consultation. When asked who wrote the letters if not the athletes, Eliasch replied: “I won’t speculate about that, but I think that every insider knows exactly who wrote them – and it certainly wasn’t the athletes’ commission.”

The Fis president had already claimed in an ORF interview this week after the first letter that, according to his information, the names of some athletes were unknowingly included in the letter. According to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, which first reported on the CVC offer together with the Swiss “Blick”, 71 athletes signed the second letter – almost twice as many as the first.

Shiffrin, Odermatt and five Germans among the signatories

The signatories include top stars such as American World Cup record winner Mikaela Shiffrin and three-time overall World Cup winner Marco Odermatt from Switzerland. The Germans Linus Straßer, Lena Dürr, Emma Aicher, Kira Weidle and Jessica Hilzinger are also there. Given the uproar the issue is generating, it’s hard to imagine that athletes – at least in the second letter – don’t know what exactly they signed.

The athletes write that they are generally frustrated and accuse the FIs of not being heard when making key decisions. Critics have attested to Eliasch’s authoritarian leadership style since his election in June 2021.

Eliasch accusation: Athletes have only just woken up

The athletes are very much involved in the processes, replied Eliasch and said: “The problem is that until last week they were not interested in the work we are doing, and it took someone to give them the illusion that they would receive 400 million to wake up and show interest.”

Eliasch rejects the athletes’ specific demand to put a deal with the rights marketer Infront on hold and to negotiate with CVC. The Swedish-British businessman said that the collaboration with Infront to centralize international media rights had nothing to do with a potential investor or raising capital. The 62-year-old also made it clear: “We have enough cash at Fis.”

Austria against Infront deal

According to “SZ”, the Infront deal could soon take effect if nine out of ten associations that organize World Cups are on board. One association has so far vehemently rejected this, says Eliasch, “and that’s why it won’t be as profitable as it could be.” When asked whether he meant the Austrian Ski Association, he said: “Yes, I’m talking about the Austrians.”