Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein has been elected president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) in a razor-thin vote that ended Johan Eliasch’s controversial tenure after a single ballot in Belgrade on Wednesday. The result, confirmed by multiple national ski federations, gives Ospelt a mandate to lead the sport’s global governing body amid deep divisions over governance, athlete welfare and the future of winter sports.
The election hinged on a final tally of 52 to 51 in favor of the Liechtenstein lawyer and former FIS legal counsel, according to reports from the FIS Congress floor . Eliasch, a German-British businessman who had led the federation since 2021, faced mounting criticism from alpine, Nordic and North American member nations, as well as from prominent athletes, over perceived opacity, commercial conflicts and a lack of athlete representation. Ospelt’s victory was hailed by supporters as a fresh start for a sport confronting climate-driven calendar pressures and the rise of alternative winter activities.
Norway’s national ski federation confirmed Ospelt’s win with a one-vote margin, calling it “a historic moment for FIS and winter sports” . The Estonian Ski Association likewise reported the narrow outcome, underscoring the razor-thin consensus among voting delegates . Eliasch’s allies had accused the International Olympic Committee of last-minute interference, a claim echoed in German and Austrian press coverage .
Ospelt, 54, trained in law at the University of St. Gallen and has served as legal advisor to Liechtenstein’s Olympic Committee. His election platform emphasized transparency, athlete-centered governance and a sustainable calendar that balances elite competition with grassroots participation. In remarks to delegates, he pledged to “restore trust and unity” within the federation, which has seen multiple high-profile departures of national ski associations and athletes in recent years.
The vote caps a turbulent period for FIS, which has also faced scrutiny over its environmental policies and the commercialization of World Cup circuits. Ospelt inherits a federation with dwindling television audiences, aging infrastructure and a calendar increasingly disrupted by warming winters. His first major test will come in shaping the 2030 Olympic bid process, where Milan-Cortina remains the sole remaining European candidate.
Eliasch, who had vowed to challenge the result, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FIS has scheduled an extraordinary council meeting for July 15 in Lausanne to formalize the transition and outline priorities for the new administration.