The International Ski and Snowboard Federation -FIS-, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation -IBSF- and World Curling have renewed key positions in a week of institutional movement for winter sports. The main change came at the FIS, where Alexander Ospelt, the candidate from Liechtenstein, was elected new president at the federation’s 57th Congress, held in Belgrade, after defeating outgoing president Johan Eliasch by 65 votes to 64.
The result, decided by a single vote, opens a new chapter in one of the leading Olympic winter federations after an election process marked by internal tension and by Eliasch’s candidacy as a representative of Georgia. The official, born in Sweden and also a British citizen, stood under a Georgian nomination after failing to receive the backing of his most direct national frameworks, the United Kingdom and Sweden, a route that placed the focus on the relationship between passport, national federation and candidacy within FIS electoral rules.
Ospelt promises unity after defeating Eliasch by one vote
Ospelt acknowledged after his election that the narrow result reflects a federation that remains divided, although he presented that situation as a starting point for his mandate. “I see this division as a chance, rather than a problem. My first task will be bringing unity and a common ambition to drive FIS forward together,” said the new president, who placed listening to national associations and athletes among his first priorities.
The new president also argued that every National Ski Association -NSA- must feel part of a new start and receive the same attention within the international federation. Ospelt, a member of the FIS Council since 2024 and president of the Liechtenstein Ski Association between 2015 and 2023, called for solidarity from larger countries towards smaller ones and outlined his intention to seek new stakeholders, investment and sponsors to generate more income, distribute it among national federations and respond to athletes’ requests for increased prize money.
Groesswang becomes first woman to lead IBSF
The renewal also reached bobsleigh and skeleton, with the election of Heike Groesswang as IBSF president during the Congress held in Salzburg, Austria. The German official, the federation’s secretary general since 2012, was elected in the first round with 27 votes out of a possible 45 and will serve a four-year term from 2026 to 2030. Groesswang becomes the sixth person to preside over the IBSF and the first woman to lead the international body.
Groesswang succeeds Ivo Ferriani, IBSF president from 2010 to 2026, who was later appointed honorary member and honorary president of the federation. The new president has more than 25 years of experience in bobsleigh and skeleton, with responsibilities in sports marketing, athlete and race management, as well as roles in working groups and commissions of the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations -ASOIF-, the World Anti-Doping Agency -WADA- and the Winter Olympic Federations -WOF-. “I am deeply honoured by your support and the trust you have placed in me,” she told delegates.
World Curling renews the voice of its athletes
World Curling completed the block of renewals with the confirmation of the new composition of its Athlete Commission, following the conclusion of the 2026 election process. The commission acts as the collective voice of high-performance curlers within the international federation and serves as a link between athletes, the World Curling Board, the Rules and Competition Commission and the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
The newly elected members are Kristin Moen Skaslien, from Norway, as female athlete representative; Geoff Walker, from Canada, as male athlete representative; Tori Koana, from Japan, as female mixed doubles representative; Geir Arne Skogstad, from Norway, as male wheelchair curling representative; Chelsea Carey, from Canada, as female World Curling Team Ranking System -WCTRS- representative; and Dean Hewitt, from Australia, as male WCTRS representative. Eve Muirhead, from Scotland; Harri Lill, from Estonia; Collinda Joseph, from Canada; and Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel, from Switzerland, will continue their terms until the 2028 elections.
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