04/22/26 04:21:00
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04/22 16:19 CDT World ski body president Eliasch gets nomination for
re-election from unexpected country
World ski body president Eliasch gets nomination for re-election from
unexpected country
OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) --- The billionaire British-Swedish president of
skiing's governing body is standing for re-election as a candidate from the
country of Georgia.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation on Wednesday published the list
of five candidates for the June 11 election, which ended speculation about
which member federation had nominated its incumbent leader Johan Eliasch.
The British snowsport federation nominated its chief executive Victoria Gosling
for the FIS presidency and Swedish media reported this week its national
federation would not back Eliasch, who has often been unpopular with European
ski officials.
Sweden-born Eliasch, the owner of the Head sportswear brand that provides skis
to many top racers including Lindsey Vonn, also is a citizen of his adopted
home Britain.
He was nominated by the British federation before winning the FIS presidency in
2021, and was classed as a British candidate when he ran in the International
Olympic Committee presidential election last year won by Kirsty Coventry.
Eliasch has been an IOC member for two years.
FIS legal statutes require election candidates to "hold a valid passport with
the nationality of their nominating member association".
It was unclear until Wednesday where Eliasch would find his nomination and
similarly unclear why he is now a candidate for Georgia.
The other candidates are Dexter Paine of the United States, Anna Harboe
Falkenberg of Denmark and Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein.
FIS has said it will send a list of eligible candidates on May 20 to member
federations, after a review by an international panel.
The election meeting in June is in Belgrade, Serbia.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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