– It is obvious. In the international competition rules, it was previously stipulated that the rights belonged to the national confederations. With the changes that have now been made almost overnight, this was changed to our disadvantage, says Stefan Schwarzbach of the German Ski Association to news. Until now, they have kept it a secret that they have sued the International Ski Federation (FIS). On Tuesday, the board of FIS meets for a decisive meeting in Zurich. There they can go back on a very controversial decision from April. news knows that the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) has also been offered to join an international lawsuit. The Norwegian association does not want to comment on the case, but confirms to news that they have not gone to court. However, the level of conflict in international skiing is still sky high. It’s all about money and governance and can define skiing’s international future. The conflict in FISNorway and several other countries are in heated conflict with the international skiing federation. Eliasch was elected as FIS president in the summer of 2021. He promised to change FIS, among other things by centralizing marketing and TV rights. This has been one of his most important issues so far as president. In July 2023, FIS publishes a press release stating that they have entered into an agreement with the rights company Infront on the centralization of the rights. In other words, FIS will sell the rights to Infront. But FIS faces great opposition from the national confederations. Countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Austria and Germany form a cooperation group called Snowflake. They are in favor of centralization, but have requirements for how the centralization should take place. It is, among other things, about finances and who will make decisions on the way forward. For the first time, the largest skin nations are meeting the FIS president on the question of centralisation. Until now, the two parties have only had digital dialogue. In a meeting lasting several hours, Snowflake presents his alternative proposal. Nothing is resolved, but everyone says it was a good and constructive meeting. No new meetings will take place between Snowflake and FIS before this date. Then the board of FIS decides, in a secret vote, that they will change the FIS regulations so that they can go ahead with the centralization. The agreement with Infront, which will come into force from the 2026/2027 season, will thus come into effect. That agreement nevertheless has an important condition: The national confederations must come to an agreement with FIS on a number of points, including finances. The confederations immediately threaten legal action following the board’s decision. They are calling for more information from FIS. Negotiations on agreements between FIS and the national confederations begin, but it quickly becomes clear that the two parties are far apart. FIS president Eliasch states to news that “Snowflake only wants to transfer ownership and management to itself. In that case, Snowflake will become the new international Skiing Association. Then the FIS would be history”. The new FIS board, which was elected in June, meets in Zurich. Several board members are said to have demanded a new vote on the decision from April. Show more May refuse to organize World Cup races In April, the FIS decided to make a major change in its regulations. After a secret vote in the board, it was decided that the countries no longer own the TV and marketing rights to World Cup races. – Centralization (of the rights) opens the door to a world of possibilities in media and content production. It will increase the digital possibilities and engage fans like never before, said FIS president Johan Eliasch in a press release after the decision. It is this decision that Schwarzbach is talking about when he says that the regulations were changed overnight. And that is why both Germany and Austria have sued FIS. They want the rights back. – The rights situation has been completely undisputed since the start of the World Cup. Ultimately, this is the financial lifeblood of the national confederations. That is why we are now defending ourselves legally. And otherwise we will not put our rights in this centralization curve, says the German. Put another way: Germany, Austria, Norway and several other countries can refuse to organize World Cup races if they don’t get their way. To that FIS replies that they have every right to change the rules and that the whole process has been a democratic process. At the same time, FIS reminds that each individual nation chooses whether they want to organize a World Cup race or not. – And the nations must follow the regulations if they want to organize World Cup races. The German federation had the opportunity to appeal the decision at the FIS Congress in June. They didn’t, and that says it all. The lawsuits are only meant to gain more power in the negotiations and damage not only the FIS, but also the reputation of the sport, says an unnamed spokesperson for the FIS. Already the day after the decision in April, several large nations announced that they wanted to talk to lawyers. – We do not want to comment on the details until we have all the necessary information and have spoken to our advisers and lawyers. But we can confirm that we are ready to take the necessary steps, said General Secretary of the Austrian Ski Association, Christian Scherer. Now the threat has become a reality. The Germans had their first court hearing last week. Austria is awaiting a date for its court hearing. – Stripped of our power On Tuesday, the board of FIS will meet. Since April, a new board has been elected. According to what news is learning, the question of centralization is again on the agenda of the board of FIS. In other words, the new board can reverse the decision at a meeting on Tuesday, but that is far from certain. If they do not reverse the decision, the consequences are potentially enormous (see the explanation box above). news’s sports commentator, Jan Petter Saltvedt, believes the conflict is at a breaking point. SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Jan Petter Saltvedt. Photo: Lars Thomas Nordby / news – The entire international skiing community can disintegrate. Eliasch is the elephant who has stomped right into the china shop and is not going to give up until he has smashed all the old frameworks for how things are done and run. But the price could ultimately be that the FIS in its current form perishes, says Saltvedt. The centralization of rights is one of the FIS president’s most important issues. The agreement between FIS and Infront is already in place. – The future of winter sports is good if we manage to work together. If we are talking about finances, this agreement will give a guaranteed increase in the income of the associations of at least 20 per cent. There will be more money for organizers and for the development of skiing. There is no alternative. Full stop, says FIS in a statement to news. This agreement nevertheless has an important prerequisite: FIS must enter into agreements with each individual country that organizes World Cup races. Currently, the countries refuse to sign such an agreement. – In recent weeks, there has been some progress and talks regarding the agreement between the national confederations and FIS. But the most important condition is that the rights must remain with the confederations. Therefore, the regulations must be changed back to before 26 April, when our rights were taken away by force, says Schwarzbach. According to what news learns, several confederations, including the Norwegian one, are threatening to withdraw from all negotiations with FIS if the decision from April is not reversed. Since May, the countries have discussed and negotiated the agreements. Now the negotiations can be completely stalled, at least until the lawsuits are resolved. Published 24.09.2024, at 06.07
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– The rights were taken away from us by force – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
