51st International Ski Congress - 2018 - Costa Navarino (GRE)

The 51st edition of the FIS Congress in Costa Navarino (GRE) from 13th to 19th May 2018 was attended by more than 1,200 participants from the extended global FIS family including delegates, representatives of National Ski Associations, Organizing Committees, the ski industry, service providers and the media who took part in more than 100 official meetings.

FIS President Gian Franco Kasper re-elected

FIS President Gian Franco Kasper was re-elected for his sixth term by the Congress with a standing ovation. Kasper is the fourth president in the history of FIS since its founding in 1924.

Three new members elected to FIS Council

Steve Dong Yang (CHN), Erik Roeste (NOR) and Eduardo Valenzuela (ESP) were the newly-elected members to the FIS Council.

FIS Athlete Commission Member representation on FIS Council

In 2016, the Congress unanimously approved a change of Statutes to include a representative of the FIS Athlete’s Commission proposed by the Athletes Commission itself, as a member of the FIS Council with voting rights. Furthermore, the Congress 2018 approved the proposal to include a second FIS Athlete’s Commission representative of the other gender and another discipline and agreed to implement the decision immediately.

The Congress unanimously elected Konstantin Schad (GER), Snowboard and Hannah Kearney (USA), Freestyle Skiing as the two Athlete Commission members of the FIS Council for the 2018-2020 period.

Honorary Members of FIS

Sverre Seeberg (NOR) and Eduardo Roldan (ESP) were made Honorary Members of FIS after serving 14 and 12 years as Council Members.

FIS Membership

The Congress approved the affiliation of two National Ski Associations from Jordan and the Dominican Republic as Associate Members. After further development of its activities the Kosovo Ski Association was elected as a full member with one vote.

Annual President’s Conference during FIS Calendar Conference

In the years when the FIS Congress does not take place (odd numbered years) a President’s Conference will be convened as part of the FIS Calendar Conference in order to approve the annual accounts and undertake round table discussions.

Olympic Winter Games Programme

The Congress approved that FIS propose to the International Olympic Committee the following new events for inclusion in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games programme (in addition to existing proposed events): Freestyle aerials mixed team event, Freeski big air, Snowboard cross team event, Snowboard alpine mixed team parallel event, Snowboard parallel slalom, Snowboard mixed team slalom, Telemark parallel sprint.

FIS World Championship Programme

The Congress approved the addition of the following new events to the FIS World Championships:

• Nordic: Ski Jumping Ladies team competition, Nordic Combined Ladies competition, both from 2021

• Alpine: Individual parallel competition from 2021

• Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard: Freestyle Skiing aerials mixed team competition, Snowboard team mixed parallel event

Adoption of FIS Safe Sport Policy

The Congress approved the new FIS Safe Snow Policy, approved by the FIS Council in Costa Navarino, to address Safeguarding from Harassment and Abuse. The FIS Safe Snow Policy is also designed to assist the National Ski Associations implement its’ own policies

Management of Governance and Ethical Breaches

The Congress acknowledged the establishment of the system to protect the integrity of sport and the FIS in the case of any breaches of governance and ethical matters as provided for in the FIS Code of Ethics, Anti-Corruption and Betting Rules, new Safe Snow Policy and the FIS Anti-Doping Rules, through an independent specialist organization. The services will include a Whistleblower Hotline, Investigation Services and an Ethics and Compliance Office. The services from “Global Sports Investigations” will deal with such matters.