After controversial Schladming statements: FIS boss Eliasch is back

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At the end of January, FIS chairman Johan Eliasch (61) caused a stir. In an interview with SRF, he defended the World Cup calendar, which includes a second trip to North America in March with races in Palisades Tahoe and Aspen. Eliasch believes that criticism should not always focus on air travel abroad as a negative factor.

“We always talk about travel, but it’s also about the global footprint,” he says, making a bold comparison. “The carbon footprint of the races in Schladming is much larger than that of the races in Aspen, because there are not as many spectators there. In Schladming, however, 30,000.”

FIS should support development in different regions

These statements were met with anger, especially in Austria. Eliasch’s predecessor Peter Schröcksnadel (82) responds and says: “Schladming is one of the most sustainable events on the World Cup calendar.” According to him, Eliasch can be grateful “that he has such high-profile races as Schladming, Adelboden, Wengen and Kitzbühel on the calendar.”

Now Eliasch has probably also realized that he has missed the point with the interview. The FIS published a statement on its homepage pointing out that Eliasch’s statements had been misinterpreted. He has never criticized the World Championships in Schladming, “because it is a great event and the best advertisement for snow sports.” In addition, the races are held in Aspen because the FIS is an international association and is therefore obliged to “support the development of the sport in the different regions”.

One technician, one speed specialist

The third point mentioned relates to the fact that speed races (two downhills, one super-G, which have been canceled this season) take place in North America in November, and then the technical races (three giant slaloms) in February and March, two slaloms ). Therefore, not all athletes would make the trip across the pond twice, only a few would.

However, this statement is only partially true. Because there are more and more all-rounders who participate in both speed and technical races. Starting with overall World Cup leader Marco Odermatt (26) via Loïc Meillard (27) to the currently injured Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (31) and Marco Schwarz (28). (beer)

Source : Blick