Vancouver, June 13th, 2009 -- At its meeting in the host city for the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 on 12th June 2009, hosted by the Canadian Snowsports Association, the FIS Council dealt with a full agenda. Amongst the items there were reports from Organizing Committees from the concluded 2009 as well as the future FIS World Championships, proposals from the FIS Technical Committees with calendar updates and developments to various rules. The main decisions include the following:

Decisions directly related to ski sports

FIS World Cup calendars

At its meeting in Levi (FIN) on 14th November 2008, the Council approved the FIS World Cup calendars for the 2009/2010 season. In Vancouver, the Council approved some adjustments proposed by the respective Technical Committees and confirmed the final versions which will be published on the FIS Website (on Monday 14th June).

The Council approved the Alpine Ladies World Cup calendars for 2010/2011 and 2012/2013 that were rejected by the Council at its meeting in Levi, following their revision by the Sub-Committee for the Alpine World Cup and the Alpine Committee in Dubrovnik (also available on the FIS Website on Monday 14th June).

Regarding host of the FIS Alpine World Cup Finals in 2013, the Council decided by large majority to support the decision of the FIS Alpine Committee which proposed Lenzerheide (SUI) versus Meribel as proposed by the French Ski Association.

Qualification rules for Alpine World Ski Championships

On proposal of the Hungarian Ski Association to change the rules for the qualification races at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the Council approved the proposal of the Alpine Committee to establish a working group to carefully study this matter and to find a solution for the benefit of global interest of Alpine Skiing.

Proposals and requests from the Technical Committees

The Council approved a number of proposals to update rules that were reported after the Technical Committee Meetings in Cavtat-Dubrovnik (CRO).

Program for FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo (NOR)

In the case of the competition program for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Oslo 2011, the Council approved the program with four competitions for Ski Jumping (individual normal hill, individual large hill, team event large hill and team event normal hill) and three Nordic Combined competitions according to the new format for the discipline (Gundersen large hill, Gundersen normal hill and team event on the large hill).

Additionally, the Council decided that the request of the Nordic Combined Committee to maintain four events on the program by including a team event on the normal hill will be thoroughly considered and reviewed again at the Council's meeting in November 2009.

In regard to the proposal of the Norwegian Ski Association to consider a team event for the ladies' Ski Jumping, the Council decided that the sport is not yet sufficiently developed in terms of numbers and performance levels to merit a team event in 2011, but hopes that there will be sufficient progress that the inclusion of a team event for ladies' Ski Jumping will be possible in the future.

Olympic Winter Games 2010 in Vancouver

The Council expressed its pleasure in regard to the confirmation by VANOC to stage the medal ceremonies for the mountain venues in Whistler.

The Council confirmed that in the Alpine giant slalom and slalom, as has been the case at the previous Games, all athletes who successfully complete the first run are entitled to participate in the second run, and decided not to reduce the second run starting field to 30.

Schedule for election of organizers for the 2014/2015 FIS World Championships

The schedule for presentations to the FIS Council during the FIS Congress week in Antalya (TUR) by the Candidates for the FIS World Ski Championships 2014 and 2015 will take place on Tuesday 1st June, with election by the Council taking place on Thursday 3rd June.

Appointment of organizers

The Council appointed the following new organizers:

• Swiss Ski Association with Goldingen as organizer of the 2011 FIS Grass Skiing World Championships.

• Czech Ski Association with Horni Lhota/Ostrava as organizer of the 2009 FIS Grass Skiing Junior World Championships from 29th July to 2nd August.

• New Zealand Ski Association with Otago as organizer of the 2010 FIS Junior Freestyle and Snowboard World Championships. This will be the first time FIS World Championships are carried out in New Zealand.

In the case of Freestyle, only half-pipe and ski cross events will be carried out. For Snowboarding, the program will include half-pipe, parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom, snowboard cross and big air. In addition, the Council approved the proposal of the New Zealand Ski Association and the Snowboard Committee to include slopestyle on the program for the first time.

Administrative Decisions

FIS Finances

The Council acknowledged that the present worldwide financial crisis has affected the position of FIS despite its conservative investment policy. The total income for the period is in accordance with the budget, whereby the operational expenses remain under budget thanks to careful housekeeping.

Support for Developing Ski Nations

The Council approved the proposed program entitled "Aid and Promotion for developing ski nations" and the budget for the period from 1st May 2009 - 30th April 2010. A number of applications from National Ski Associations for FIS Solidarity support to assist with special projects relating to the development of the sport were also approved.

Seminar to address economies

The Council approved the organization of a forum by FIS with all stakeholders - FIS, National Ski Associations, Ski Industry, Organizers and Media - to openly address ways in which all parties can make economies to lower the overall cost of ski competitions. In principle the seminar will take place during the FIS Technical Committee Meetings in Zurich at the end of September 2009.

European Ski Federation

The Council took note that a new body named the European Ski Federation had been formed by the Presidents of the National Ski Associations of Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. It did not express any opinion about the organization until it receives more details about the intentions.

FIS Athletes' Commission

The Council approved the composition of the FIS Athletes' Commission as follows:

Cross-Country ladies: Kikkan Randall (USA)
Cross-Country men: Sami Jauhojärvi (FIN)
Ski Jumping: Andreas Küttel (SUI)
Nordic Combined: Jan Schmid (NOR)
Alpine Skiing ladies: Anja Pärson (SWE)
Alpine Skiing ladies: Marie Marchand-Arvier (FRA)
Alpine Skiing men: Killian Albrecht (BUL)
Alpine Skiing men: Ivica Kostelic (CRO)
Freestyle ladies: Karin Huttary (AUT)
Freestyle men: Ryan Blais (CAN)
Snowboard ladies: Juliane Bray (NZE)
Snowboard men: Mateusz Ligocki (POL)

Anti-Doping Activities

Besides acknowledging FIS's various activities in support of the global fight against cheating in sport, including participation in the recently-established WADA Athlete Passport Working Group, the Council decided that an athlete found to have committed a doping offence will have their FIS points deleted.

The Marc Hodler Foundation

The Mark Hodler Foundation is a non-profit organization with the overall goal of promoting the sport of skiing. In the next twelve months, two books will be produced with the Foundation's support. One is entitled ‘Skiing in Fine Arts and Design, depicting posters and graphical designs from FIS World Championships and major events which will be published later this year. The other will be in conjunction with the FIS Congress 2010 on the subject of "100 years of FIS history" dating back to the formation of the International Ski Commission in 1910.

Additionally a project to document the role of the late Marc Hodler in the world of FIS and international sport is underway.

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About FIS

Founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France, the International Ski Federation (FIS) aims to promote the sport of skiing and snowboarding and directs the development of all ski and snowboarding activities world-wide. It administers the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. With the help of its 110 member nations (one currently suspended), FIS stages more than 6'000 ski and snowboard competitions annually. FIS also makes recommendations for recreational skiing and snowboarding in the interest of all and promotes play in the snow as a healthy leisure activity for children and the youth. For more information, please visit www.fis-ski.com.