Overview
- The FIS Congress in Belgrade elected Alexander Ospelt over incumbent Johan Eliasch by 65 to 64 votes in a ballot that was moved forward and conducted on paper under external legal oversight.
- Thursday's vote followed weeks of public revolt by major federations and athletes who accused Eliasch of opaque decision‑making and tied his tenure to a reported fall in FIS reserves from about 130 million to roughly 43 million Swiss francs.
- FIS CEO Urs Lehmann resigned during the dispute and member federations are demanding transparent, fast financial clarification and likely forensic review of contracts and recent marketing reforms.
- The scheduled award of the 2031 Nordic World Championships between Oberstdorf and Planica was postponed at the congress after delegates booed and bidders said Eliasch intervened, leaving the Council to decide at a later meeting.
- Ospelt faces urgent tasks that will shape the sport: repair relations with big national federations, publish clear financial accounts, set a transparent process for the 2031 decision and reassure athletes about governance and representation.