The big skiing countries gathered their ranks a year and a half ago because they were dissatisfied with the dictated policy of the International Ski Federation. The measure of Mahtimai was fulfilled last fall.
The foundation of the international skiing federation FIS is in its joints. As Urheilu reported in November, the major ski resorts are dissatisfied with the actions of the FIS management.
The center of criticism is the Anglo-Swedish chairman of the FIS, a billionaire Johan Eliasch. Eliasch is accused of autocratic management. The matter is clear from the numerous interviews that the public radio companies of Finland, Norway and Sweden have done jointly.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden and Finland have had enough of FIS.
The reason is the announcement issued by FIS last July. According to it, from 2026, TV and marketing contracts, which are vital for the national Ski Federations, will be handled centrally. Up until now, each host country has managed the contracts related to their games independently.
The FIS did not negotiate the new contract model at all with the national Ski Federations, but in October demanded the countries to sign the contract with short notice. According to Urheilu’s information, the warning period in question has varied from 72 hours to two weeks, depending on the association.
Among others, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden and Finland did not sign the new media contract model.
The problems go back even further. Due to the undemocratic actions of the FIS, the countries in question have been working together since October 2022. At that time, they founded a coalition called Snowflake.
The countries want to be able to actively develop a skiing product, when now they have almost the role of a bystander. If there is no change, the countries are ready to create their own competition series – inside or outside the FIS.
According to Urheilu’s information, FIS has tried to hold bilateral negotiations with the largest Snowflake countries, but the countries have rejected FIS’ attempts and announced that they will only present themselves as a common front.
On Wednesday, this front held its first official meeting with the FIS leadership in Zurich, Switzerland. The Finnish Ski Federation was not there, but the coalition was represented by the federations of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden.
– The meeting was held in a constructive spirit. We’ll meet again in a few weeks, executive director of the Swedish Ski Association Pernilla Bonde told by phone after the meeting.
To the question whether the Snowflake countries’ own competition series is still on the table, Bonde answered briefly.
– Our goal is to reach an agreement with FIS. We are working on that now, Bonde was content to say.
A long-running saga
Eliasch has served as chairman of FIS since June 2021. At that time, he was elected to take over the position of the late by Gian Franco Kasper in place of.
In May 2022, Eliasch was elected chairman for a full four-year term. So the Snowflake coalition started only five months after the start of Eliasch’s postseason.
According to the sources interviewed by Urheilu, NRK and SVT, the lack of trust is not only limited to the national federations, but the doors have been slammed inside the FIS as well.
At the same time, FIS’s economy has spoken among the member countries.
According to the announcement published by FIS last November, the association’s 2022 financial statements would have been in a loss of almost 13 million euros. However, Liitto was able to limit its losses to just under five million by selling its securities for more than eight million. The economic development has not been flattering for World Cup revenues either, which have decreased in recent years.
According to insider sources, communication from the FIS management to the Snowflake countries has been non-existent, even though the countries in question are responsible for the vast majority of competition activities.
The countries belonging to the Snowflake coalition organize 65 percent of the World Cup competitions in FIS sports. Athletes from these countries also make up the overwhelming majority of FIS stars.
According to Urheilu’s information, the coalition has been meeting every week since last October, when the FIS demanded that member countries sign a media agreement.
Eliasch and the general secretary represented FIS at the Zürichin meeting Michel Vion and did not respond to interview requests on Wednesday evening.