Mats Årjes seeks to become second Swede to lead FIS
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles featuring interviews with candidates for FIS president ahead of the June 4 election to replace Gian-Franco Kasper. In these articles, our goal is to provide an outlet for the candidates to state their platforms while we review the history and credentials of each. You can read our first article on Sarah Lewis
. Ski Racing Media has not endorsed a candidate at this time.
Mats Årjes, who is running to succeed Gian-Franco Kasper as FIS president, concedes he doesn’t have all of the answers. The future success of FIS, he says, will ultimately be achieved through input and contributions from the varied national ski associations.
FIS candidate Lewis lauds China s snow sports push China Daily | Updated: 2021-04-22 09:54 Share International Ski Federation presidential candidate Sarah Lewis. [Photo provided to China Daily]
International Ski Federation presidential candidate Sarah Lewis says China s efforts to promote winter sports are key to the future of skiing and snowboarding worldwide. All eyes are on China as the snow sports market gathers pace in the run-up to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Lewis, who is bidding to become the first female president of the FIS, told Xinhua. Since winning the bid in 2015 to host these Games, China has implemented an outstanding plan for greater participation in winter sports and has made developing the snow and ice industry a priority, added the Briton.
FIS contender Årjes re-elected as Swedish Olympic Committee President
Mats Årjes has been re-elected for a second term as President of the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC).
The official was voted in unanimously by Sweden s 41 Olympic Federations at the SOC s General Assembly and will now stay in the role until 2025.
Årjes first became SOC head in 2018 and is hoping to gain another top job as he is one of the contenders for the International Ski Federation (FIS) Presidency.
An SOC statement said he would be able to combine both roles if he succeeds long-standing incumbent Gian-Franco Kasper at the FIS.
The current FIS vice-president is one of four candidates to have officially entered the race to replace Kasper, who is stepping down after more than two decades in charge.
Bold Ambitions for FIS Presidential Candidate 04/12/21
(ATR) Swedish NOC president Mats Årjes releases his manifesto in his bid to become the next International Ski Federation (FIS) president.
Mats Arjes (Stina Stjernkvist/TT)
The former president of the Swedish Ski Association and a current FIS vice-president, Årjes vows to take the federation forward with bold ambitions for it to become the leading Olympic International Federation.
To achieve this lofty goal, Årjes proposes implementing the most extensive review in skiing’s history in order to identify where sustainable improvements can be made to realize the sport’s global potential.
“If elected, I am proposing an immediate review and consultation process, which will identify where we can improve and what tangible action we should take,” Årjes said.