"Each vote matters": an open letter from the FIS President to all member associations

On Thursday, 18 June, one week after having been elected as FIS President at the 67th FIS Congress in Belgrade, Serbia, Alexander Ospelt addressed all 142 National Ski Associations with an open letter:

"Each vote matters"

Dear members of FIS,

The eventful days of the Congress in Belgrade are now behind us. I would like to thank you all for your congratulations on my election, your support, your words of encouragement, as well as your thoughtful and critical contributions to our discussions. I am equally grateful for the countless personal conversations we have shared over the past weeks and months.

Together, we have taken important decisions at the Congress and elected a new FIS Council and President who will lead FIS and our sports over the next four years. The majority by which I was elected could not have been narrower, a result that I regard as a clear mandate to reunite the FIS family.

We all know that there is much work ahead of us. Through continuous dialogue with our NSAs, our athletes, and our external stakeholders, we will listen carefully to their needs, set clear priorities, and, step by step, make FIS fit for the future across all its areas of activity.

The motto Building Bridges guided my campaign for the FIS presidency. My takeaway from this election is simple: each vote matters. The narrow majority symbolizes the kind of FIS I envision: one in which every vote counts and can ultimately determine the direction we take. Respect for differing needs and opinions is one of my guiding principles. In the FIS of tomorrow, every one of you has a place and should be able to contribute to an open and constructive dialogue.

I will lead our organization with transparency and in accordance with the highest standards of good governance. I will keep you regularly informed about the progress of our work and ensure that our dialogue remains continuous. In my acceptance speech, I said that I would be the President of all our member associations and all our athletes. That promise stands. Because neither I alone nor the Council defines FIS — we all are FIS.

Yours sincerely,

Alexander Ospelt
FIS President