Statement to FIS Council member Urs Lehmann’s criticism in the media

Following the recent criticism by Urs Lehmann, President of Swiss-Ski and a member of the FIS Council in media interviews on the creation of the Alpine calendars, FIS would like to clarify the following:

• All calendars are decided by the FIS Council. The current 2023/24 season calendar was unanimously approved by the FIS Council, including Urs Lehmann.

• After the cancellations of many downhills at the beginning of this season, it was the strongly expressed wish of the athletes and their support teams to find new dates. The decision to add a race in Wengen was decided together with the head coaches of the national teams.

FIS strongly condemns such unethical behaviour. A Council Member has a duty to act with integrity and with the best interests of FIS at heart.

The comments have harmed the reputation of the FIS Council, and are disrespectful to our Race Directors and to the whole FIS team who are working hard at the races to offer the best possible conditions for the athletes and their teams.

The strength of the ski and snowboard family is that together we are greater than the sum of our parts. Together we can make sure that our sport develops. When that spirit of togetherness is regularly undermined by one-upmanship or power games, we all suffer. Our sport suffers.

That is why FIS will always defend itself against such accusations.