MAJORSTUEN (VG) Vegard Ulvang is on his way out of the International Ski Federation (FIS) after 24 years. According to him, the development of FIS at the top is worrying.

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– I have absolutely nothing to do with the new regime. That’s not why I gave up, but it’s a bit of a reason. I had regular contact with the old regime, and there was a good written agenda and minutes. We on the cross-country committee are sometimes also asked for advice. It’s nothing now, Ulvang told VG over his morning coffee.

The 58-year-old joined FIS after 24 years in various positions. Since 2006, he has chaired the FIS cross-country committee, which falls under the main board. Over the past 15 years, he has become the most influential politician in international cross-country skiing.

On his way out, Ulvang sounded the alarm about openness at the top of the FIS after Swedish-British billionaire Johan Eliasch took over as president eleven months ago. Gian Franco Kasper, some died of an illness last year, was President of FIS from 1998 to 2021.

– I would like to have a written and formal meeting document to know what was discussed. This is worrying. I miss meeting minutes to know what decisions were made, said the Olympic hero from 1992. It was routine under the old regime.

Norwegian ski out president Erik Rste is on the FIS board, and Ulvang is kept up to date through him verbally.

– Has the FIS Summit become more closed?

– Definitely.

Over time, VG has tried to get an interview with Johan Eliasch, but was turned down by the FIS. Attempts to confront Eliasch with Ulvang’s critique through the FIS have also been unsuccessful.

The board also consists of four vice presidents, eleven board members (including Røste) and two practitioner representatives.

Ulvang said many viewed the FIS decision as time-consuming and “a bit bureaucratic”.

– This happens often in democracies, also in sports policy, we are a kind of «mini-UN». The opposite is the bit of development you see today, where decisions are made by very few people. From a business point of view, this may be effective, but it must be remembered that the sport has a large volunteer base and many countries. “Decision without anchoring and that everyone feels that they have been involved in the decision, I think is a very dangerous way to go,” said Ulvang.

However, in other areas, he fully supports Eliasch. He allegedly wanted to collect FIS’ TV rights and sell them himself outright – as he does in biathlon.

Now the TV rights are nationwide with the organizers – so the Norwegian Ski Association is selling the rights to competitions in Norway for example. There are also third parties involved. In most countries, this is the rights company Infront – owned by China’s Wanda Sports.

A third party reportedly wanted Eliasch to get rid of him, so the FIS and national federations could take control of the right themselves.

– He works a lot with rights issues, and I totally agree with his goals. But then there are procedures and ways to get there, says Ulvang.

He believes the issue of rights is the biggest challenge for future cross-country skiing and it involves him, even though he has no influence in it.

– If we want to develop the World Cup, which is the most important thing we have, we have to collect rights and distribute the money in a slightly different way. Important for the future.

Ulvang predicts that national federations will lose money by collecting rights in the FIS, but believes it will benefit the sport.

In Norway, winter sports are broadcast on four different channels.

– It helps to divide our products and makes us difficult to find. Therefore, I think it is very important to have control over your own product, says Ulvang.

He fears a ripple effect with a lack of interest from the media and sponsors if TV numbers fall heavily, but is positive about cross-country skiing in the future and believes the sport is stable – although he doesn’t expect growth.

At the FIS congress this spring (May 25 and 26 in Milan), she put forward a proposal that women should walk five miles instead of three, as boys do.

– I think we have provided a lot of good entertainment. We have to play what is typical of cross-country sports, namely duels with athletes against athletes at joint starts, and against time and other competitors at interval starts.

FIS and Ulvang sometimes receive criticism from the media, practitioners, and the state for various reasons, but he accepts it well and wants to have further discussion.

The Kirkenes men are currently preparing to cross the Greenland ice sheet with, among other things, the Crown Princes Haakon next week. Furthermore, Ulvang will remain involved in cross-country skiing.

– In what role?

– We will see later.

PS! Guri Knotten will be Norway’s new representative on the FIS cross-country committee. The FIS main board will decide who will lead the committee after Ulvang.