The long-time president of the International Ski Federation FIS, Gian Franco Kasper, died on Saturday at the age of 77. The association confirmed this in a message on Saturday. Previously, Flavio Roda, the President of the Italian Winter Sports Federation, reported on Kasper’s death.
Kasper was FIS President from 1998 to 2021. For health reasons, Kasper was unable to chair or attend the congress at the beginning of June. The Swiss was appointed honorary president of the FIS in absentia. The Briton Johan Eliasch, who paid tribute to Kasper’s vision and work ethic on Saturday, was elected to succeed him. “He has expanded the FIS from a small association to the undisputed leader in winter sports,” he said.
Kasper was born in 1944 in the winter sports resort of St. Moritz. He started his career as a journalist, then switched to the tourism industry and organized Fis races in his hometown. In 1975 he became Secretary General of the Fis. He was also a member of the International Olympic Committee between 2000 and 2018. He has been an honorary member of the IOC since 2018.
© SZ / dpa / fhas