The Swedish FIS president is one of seven candidates to take over from German Thomas Bach starting in March 2025.

It’s a tough competition that Eliasch faces as the IOC prepares to select the new person for what is perhaps the most important job in sports. One of the candidates is Sebastian Coe, the Briton who was once the world’s best middle-distance runner and is now the president of the IAAF, the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Another candidate is Frenchman David Lappartient, who is the president of the UCI, the International Cycling Union. He previously worked for ASO, which organizes the Tour de France and some of Europe’s largest sporting events.

A third candidate is Spain’s Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr., the son of the former IOC president of the same name.

Here are the seven candidates:

1. Sebastian Coe, president of the IAAF – the International Athletics Federation.
2. David Lappartient, president of the UCI – the International Cycling Union.
3. Johan Eliasch, president of FIS – the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.
4. Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. – son of the former IOC president of the same name.
5. Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Sport (the only female candidate).
6. Morinari Watanabe, president of the IGF – the International Gymnastics Federation.
7. Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan.

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Johan Eliasch

Johan Eliasch is a notable figure in the world of international sports, currently serving as the president of the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS). A Swedish multimillionaire based in London, Eliasch took over the presidency in 2021, succeeding the late Gianfranco Kasper.

Before his involvement with FIS, Eliasch had a successful career in business. His extensive experience in the corporate world has brought a new perspective to FIS, aiming to enhance its operations and global reach. Eliasch’s approach includes leveraging marketing rights and fostering partnerships to promote skiing and snowboarding worldwide.

In addition to his role in FIS, Eliasch was recently elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 142nd IOC Congress in Paris. His election to the IOC Executive Board places him in a position of significant influence within the world of sports administration.

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