Vilamoura, May 26th, 2006 – Conscious of the importance of its decisions for the future development of the sport of skiing, the 45th International Ski Congress, convening today in Vilamoura/Algarve (POR), has made the following decisions:

Decisions directly related to the ski sports

Acceptance of Ladies’ Ski Jumping into the program of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. Pending approval by the organizer, an individual event on the normal hill could be included as soon as at the 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec (CZE) and a team event as of the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo (NOR). The Congress also decided to submit a proposal to the International Olympic Committee to include a Ladies Ski Jumping event in the program of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver (CAN) in 2010.
Inclusion of a Nordic Combined Mass Start competition into the program of the FIS Nordic World Championships. Pending approval by the organizer, the event could be introduced as early as at the 2009 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec (CZE).
Increase of the maximum age for athletes at the Junior World Ski Championships in Ski Jumping from 18 to 20.
Rejection of an introduction of FIS World Championships in Long Distance Cross-Country Skiing. As an alternative, the Congress asked the Cross-Country Committee to investigate the options for increasing the length of the longest Cross-Country Skiing race on the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships program.
Adoption of detailed criteria for FIS disciplines and events, including the possibility of exclusion of a discipline from FIS when it is no longer practiced in at least twelve National Ski Associations on at least two continents. Moreover, the Congress decided that the status of FIS World Championships and FIS Junior World Championships in all disciplines may only be afforded when there are a minimum of eight (8) nations participating/represented in a competition.

Financial and administrative decisions

Award of total of CHF 19 million in direct support from FIS to the member National Ski Associations during the 2006-07 financial period, comprising of a special distribution from the result of the 2004-05 period of CHF 9 million and National Ski Association financial support for the 2006-07 period of CHF 10 million.
Decision to jointly procure timing services for the FIS Alpine World Cup.
Re-election of Gian-Franco Kasper as FIS President for a four-year term. Election of the members of the FIS Council for a two-year term, consisting of Gaetano Coppi (ITA), Jaakko Holkeri (FIN, new), Yoshiro Ito (JPN), Milan Jirasek (CZE), Janez Kocijancic (SLO), Sung-Won Lee (KOR), Bill Marolt (USA), Eduardo Roldan (SPA, new), Pablo Rosenkjer (ARG), Peter Schrocksnadel (AUT), Sverre Seeberg (NOR), Patrick Smith (CAN), Carl Eric Stalberg (SWE), Leonid Tyagachev (RUS, new), Michel Vion (FRA) and Fritz Wagnerberger (GER).
Affiliation of the Alpine Skiing Federation of the Republic of Armenia as a Full Member of FIS, and affiliation of Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Ghana and Madagascar as Associated Members.
Appointment of Anatolij Akentiev (RUS) as Honorary Member of FIS.
Publication of the Official FIS Bulletin once yearly beginning with the issue #156, supported by weekly electronic communications in the form of the FIS Newsflash.

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FIS MEDIA INFO:
Alpine Skiing - Decisions of the FIS Council at the 45th International Ski Congress
Vilamoura, May 25th, 2006 - The 45th International Ski Congress is currently underway in Vilamoura (POR). The following items related to Alpine Skiing have been approved by the FIS Council at its meeting today:

The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Calendars for the Season 2006/2007

 Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup 2006/07 Men
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/new0607men.pdf

 Audi Alpine FIS Ski World Cup 2006/07 Ladies
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/as0607ladies-council.pdf

Starting order for the downhill, super-G and super combined will be based on the best thirty (30) competitors starting in the reversed order of the corresponding WCSL points (Article 9.4). In competitions held in two runs (downhill, super combined, slalom and giant slalom) the best 30 competitors qualified for the second run shall start in reversed order of the times achieved in the first run (new Article 9.5).
Definition of the technical data of slalom courses will be based on the number of direction changes, rather than on the number of gates. The required number of direction changes in the Olympic Winter Games, FIS World Ski Championships, World Cup, FIS and Continental Cup slalom competitions is 30%-35% of the vertical drop, +/- 3 direction changes (Article 801.2.4.1).
Increase of the maximum vertical drop for the Ladies’ slalom courses in the Olympic Winter Games, FIS World Ski Championships and FIS World Cup from 200m to 220m, which is equal to that of the men (Article 801.1.2).
Decrease of the minimum vertical drop for the men’s super-G events from 500m to 400m (Article 1001.1.1)
Making crash helmets compulsory in all FIS Alpine Skiing events.
Please also note that according to the ICR art. 219.1, the prize money for the coming 2006-2007 season has been confirmed by the FIS Council in its November 2005 meeting. For Alpine events the amounts will be the following:

Minimum cash prize per World Cup event: CHF 100,000,- (divided between 1-10)
Minimum cash prize for European Cup events: CHF 2,300,- (divided between 1-10)

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FIS MEDIA INFO: Cross-Country Skiing - Decisions of the FIS Council at the 45th International Ski Congress
Vilamoura, May 24th, 2006 -- The 45th International Ski Congress is currently underway in Vilamoura (POR). The following items related to Cross-Country Skiing have been approved by the FIS Council at its meeting today:

• The Viessmann FIS World Cup Calendar Cross-Country for the Season 2006/2007 (see  here http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/cc0607-council.pdf)
• Approval of the World Cup rules for 2006/2007, including a modification of the rules for the Sprint whereby all final heats will be run with six competitors, instead of four as has been the case in the semi-finals until now. In reality, this means that the two best Lucky Losers in the quarter-final heats will also advance to the semi-finals.

The decision on the organizer of the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships will be made by the FIS Council on Thursday, 25th May and announced at around 18 CET.

Successor to Peter Petricek (SLO) as Chairman of the Cross-Country Committee will be appointed by the new FIS Council at the end of the Congress, by Saturday, May 27th.

Please also note that according to the ICR art. 219.1, the prize money for the coming 2006-2007 season has already been confirmed by the FIS Council in its November 2005 meeting (approximately 1 1/2 years before the applicable competition season). For Cross-Country events the amounts will be, as in the previous season:
• Minimum cash prize for individual events: CHF 40,000,- (divided between 1-10)
• Minimum cash prize for relay events: CHF 30,000,- (divided between 1-6)

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FIS MEDIA INFO: Ski Jumping - Decisions of the FIS Council at the 45th International Ski Congress

Vilamoura, May 24th, 2006 -- The 45th International Ski Congress is currently underway in Vilamoura (POR). The FIS Council has confirmed at its meeting today the different FIS World Cup, Summer Grand Prix and Continental Cup Calendars for the Season 2006/2007.

 E-On Ruhrgas FIS World Cup Ski Jumping 2006-07
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/jp0607-council.pdf

 FIS Grand Prix Ski Jumping 2006
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/jpgp06-council.pdf

 FIS Continental Cup Ski Jumping (men) 2006-07
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/jp-coc0607.pdf

 FIS Continental Cup Ski Jumping (ladies) 2006-07
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/jp-coc-ladies0607.pdf

Please note that the World Cup season will start, as last year, in Kuusamo/FIN on November 24th, 2006 while the final will take place in Planica/SLO on March 24th-25th, 2007. For the first time, the last competition of the Four-Hills Tournament will take place on January 7th instead of the traditional date of January 6th. This is at the request of the television since January 7th is a Sunday and larger audiences are expected both at the stadium and on TV.

On proposal of the FIS Ski Jumping Committee, the FIS Council will recommend the FIS Congress on Friday to introduce Ladies’ Ski Jumping in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships as of 2009 and to submit a request to the International Olympic Committee for including Ladies’ Ski Jumping in the program of the Olympic Winter Games.

As a reminder, the FIS Council has confirmed in its November 2005 the prize money for Ski Jumping in the 2006/07 season to be as follows:

• Minimum cash prize per event: CHF 70'000 — divided between 1 – 10
• Minimum cash prize per double event: CHF 70'000 — divided between 1-10
• Minimum cash prize per team event: CHF 70'000 — divided between 1-3
• Minimum cash prize for Continental Cup events: CHF 1'500 — divided between 1-6

The decision on the organizer of the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships will be made by the FIS Council on Thursday, 25th May and announced at around 18 CET.

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FIS MEDIA INFO: 
Decisions of the FIS Council at the 45th International Ski Congress -
World Cup Calendars for Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard
Vilamoura, May 25th, 2006 -- The 45th International Ski Congress is currently underway in Vilamoura (POR). In its meeting earlier today, the FIS Council approved the following items:

 Warsteiner FIS World Cup Nordic Combined Calendar for the 2006/2007 season
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/nc0607-council.pdf
 
 Freestyle FIS World Cup Calendar for the 2006/2007 season
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/fs0607-council.pdf

 Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup Calendar for the 2006/2007 season
http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/sb0607-council.pdf

Please also note that according to the ICR art. 219.1, the prize money for the coming 2006-2007 season has been confirmed by the FIS Council in its November 2005 meeting. For Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard events the amounts will be the following:

Nordic Combined
Minimum cash prize per event: CHF 30,000,- (divided between 1-10)
Minimum cash prize per team event: CHF 20,000,- (divided between 1-6)

Freestyle Skiing
Minimum cash prize per event: CHF 15,000,- (divided between 1-10)

Snowboard
Minimum cash prize per event: CHF 25,000,- (divided between 1-10)

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FIS MEDIA INFO: Appointment of FIS Council Vice Presidents and Treasurer, FIS Committee Chairmen and Honorary Members
Oberhofen, May 29th, 2006 -- The 45th International Ski Congress has concluded successfully in Vilamoura (POR). In its first meeting following election at the General Assembly on Friday, May 26th, the new FIS Council elected the vice presidents and treasurer, and appointed the chairmen and members of the FIS Committees for the upcoming two-year period (2006-2008). The 46th International Ski Congress will take place in Cape Town (RSA) in the spring of 2008.

FIS Council Appointments

Vice Presidents

Yoshiro Ito (JPN)
Bill Marolt (USA)
Carl Eric Stalberg (SWE)
Leonid Tyagachev (RUS, new)
Treasurer

Fritz Wagnerberger (GER)
Committee Chairmen

Cross-Country

Vegard Ulvang (NOR, new) – Cross-Country Committee
Midori Koyama Poppe (JPN, new) – Sub-Committee for Ladies Cross-Country
Karl-Heinz Lickert (GER) – Subcommittee for Rules and Control (ICR)
Tiit Pekk (EST) – Subcommittee for World and Continental Cups
Luke Bodensteiner (USA, new) – Sub-Committee for Popular Cross Country
Jean-Pierre Cochet (FRA) – Sub-Committee for Roller Skiing
Ski Jumping

Jouko Tormanen (FIN) – Ski Jumping Committee
Wolfgang Happle (GER) – Sub-Committee Jumping Hills
Paul Ganzenhuber (AUT) – Sub-Committee Calendar Planning
Ueli Forrer (SUI) – Sub-Committee for Officials, Rules and Control
Bertil Palsrud (NOR) – Sub-Committee for Equipment and Development
Nordic Combined

Harald Aarhus (NOR) – Nordic Combined Committee
Alpine Skiing

Toni Sailer (AUT) – Alpine Skiing Committee
Helmut Adams (ITA) – Sub-Committee for Classification of Alpine Competitors
Jana Gantnerova (SVK) – Sub-Committee for Ladies’ Alpine Skiing
Walter Trilling (FRA) – Sub-Committee for Alpine Courses
Christian Poley (AUT) – Sub-Committee for Rules and Control (ICR)
Stig Ove Gustafsson (SWE) – Sub-Committee for Alpine TDs
Erich Demetz (ITA) – Sub-Committee for Alpine World Cup
Oskar Fischer (GER) – Sub-Committee for Intercontinental Cups
Dieter Posch (AUT) – Sub-Committee for European Cup
Claude Savard (CAN, new) – Sub-Committee for Nor-Am Cup
David Howden (NZE) – Sub-Committee for Australia New Zealand Cup
Toshimasa Furukawa (JPN) – Sub-Committee for Far East Cup
Stefano Pirola (CHI) – Sub-Committee for South American Cup
Freestyle Skiing

Chris Robinson (CAN) – Committee for Freestyle Skiing
Marko Mustonen (FIN, new) – Sub-Committee for Freestyle Rules and Officials (Please note change of Committee name)
Snowboard

William Slattery (USA) – Committee for Snowboard
Speed Skiing

Dick Taplin (GBR, new) – Speed Skiing Committee
Telemark Skiing

Anthony Favre (FRA) – Telemark Skiing Committee
Grass Skiing

Jiri Russwurm (CZE) – Grass Skiing Committee
Special Committees

Aki Murasato (JPN) - Committee for Competition Equipment
Karl Heinz Klee (AUT) – Legal and Safety Committee
Hubert Horterer (GER, new) – Medical Committee
Paul Michaelides (CYP) – Committee for Recreational Skiing
Howard Peterson (USA) – Committee for Advertising Matters
Tom Kelly (USA, new) – Public Relations and Media Committee
Heinz Maurer (SUI) – Committee for Racers with Special Qualifications
Urs-Peter Dietrich (SUI) – Sub-Committee for Alpine Citizen Racers
Germaine Carriere (FRA) – Sub-Committee for Corporate Racers
Kirsten Lehmann (DAN) – Sub-Committee Cross-Country for Lowlanders and Citizen Racers
Urs Schupbach (SUI, new) – Sub-Committee for University Racers
Harald Herbert (AUT) – Sub-Committee for Masters Racing
Rita van Driel (NED) – Sub-Committee for Skiers with a Disability
Please note that instead of a general Committee for Youth and Children’s Questions, the Council decided to form Sub-Committees for Youth and Children’s Questions in the disciplines of Cross-Country Skiing and Alpine Skiing, and eventually also in Ski Jumping and Snowboarding. The National Ski Associations are invited to submit proposals for the various sub-committees by 15th September 2006.

FIS Court

Anton Ribnikar (SLO)
The full list of Committee members will be available from the FIS web site shortly.

Honorary Members

The FIS Congress unanimously appointed Anatolij Akentiev (RUS) as Honorary Member of FIS.

The former and the new Council appointed the following Honorary Members of FIS Committees in recognition of their outstanding service:

Peter Petricek (SLO), Honorary Member of the Cross-Country Committee
Barry Bunshoft (USA), Honorary Member of the Legal Committee
Hans Kaspar Stiffler (SUI), Honorary Member of the Legal Committee
Elisabeth Hussey (GBR), Honorary Member of the PR and Media Committee
Kalevi Hakkinen (FIN), Honorary Member of the Speed Skiing Committee
Patrick Field (GBR), Honorary Member of the Sub-Committee for Popular Cross-Country Skiing
Laura Gaja des Ambrois (ITA), Honorary Member of the Sub-Committee for Ladies Alpine Skiing
Ladislav Harvan (SVK), Honorary Member of the Sub-Committee for Alpine Courses

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FIS MEDIA INFO: Organizers for the 2010 and 2011 FIS World Championships

Vilamoura, 25th May, 2006/ -- At its meeting in the 45th International Ski Congress today, the FIS Council elected the organizers of the FIS Ski Flying World Championships 2010 and the 2011 FIS Alpine, Nordic and Freestyle World Championships. The appointed organizers are:

2010 FIS Ski Flying World Championships: Planica (SLO)

2011 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships: Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER)

Results of the Voting:
1. Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) 9
2. Schladming (AUT) 6

2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships: Oslo (NOR)

Results of the Voting:
1. Oslo (NOR) 12
2. Val di Fiemme (ITA) 4
3. Zakopane (POL) 0

2011 FIS Snowboard World Championships: La Molina (SPA)

2011 FIS Freestyle World Championships: Deer Valley (USA)