Gian Franco Kasper
Born24 January 1944 Edit this on Wikidata
St. Moritz Edit this on Wikidata
Died9 July 2021 Edit this on Wikidata (aged 77)
Awards

Gian Franco Kasper (24 January 1944 – 9 July 2021) was a Swiss ski official who was president of the International Ski Federation (FIS) from 1998 to 2021.[1] He also served as a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2000 to 2018 and member of the World Anti-Doping Agency from 2003 to 2021.

Early life

Kasper was born in St. Moritz on 24 January 1944. He studied at the University of Zurich, obtaining degrees in journalism, philosophy, and psychology. After his university studies, he worked as an editor for the St. Moritz Kurier. He later went into the tourism industry, founding a Swiss tourism office in Montreal in 1974 and serving as its manager.[2][3]

Career

Kasper was appointed Secretary-General of the International Ski Federation in 1975 by Marc Hodler, its president at the time. He held the post until Hodler's retirement in 1998. Kasper subsequently succeeded Hodler as FIS president,[2][3] a position he held until one month before his death in 2021.[4] He became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 2000.[2][3] He served in that capacity until 2018, when he was conferred honorary member status and the Olympic Order.[2][5] Kasper also sat on the executive committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency starting in 2003.[2] In 2005 he expressed opposition to sanctioning women's ski jumping in the Olympics on medical grounds, saying it "seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view".

In February 2019, Kasper stated in an interview that he preferred working with dictatorships over environmentalists. He also questioned climate change and welcomed global warming. A nonprofit organization Protect Our Winters condemned the statement and demanded that Kasper resign from the presidency of FIS. Following the controversy, Kasper apologized for his comments.[6][7] He retired as president of the FIS in June 2021, a year before the expiry of his term. He was succeeded by Johan Eliasch.[8][9]

Personal life and death

Kasper was married and had one child. He resided in Thun while also maintaining a house in his hometown.[5] He received an honorary doctorate from the National Sports Academy of Bulgaria in Sofia on 14 December 2007. He was also conferred the 2018 Eagle Award by the United States Sports Academy.[10]

Kasper died on 9 July 2021, at age 77.[4][5] The cause of death was unknown.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Johan Eliasch zum neuen FIS-Präsidenten gewählt". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mr Gian-Franco Kasper". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Allen, E. John B. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Skiing. Scarecrow Press. p. 107. ISBN 9780810868021.
  4. ^ a b "Long-time world ski president Kasper dies at 77". Associated Press. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Former FIS President Gian Franco Kasper passes away. In: FIS, 10. Juli 2021.
  6. ^ FIS president Gian-Franco Kasper urged to quit over climate comment ESPN, 8 February 2019
  7. ^ «In Diktaturen ist es für uns einfacher» Tages-Anzeiger, 4 February 2019 (in German)
  8. ^ "Billionaire Eliasch elected to lead world ski federation". Associated Press. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. ^ "FIS elects billionaire Eliasch as new president". Reuters. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  10. ^ "International Ski Federation President Gian Franco Kasper Receives Academy's 2018 Eagle Award". United States Sports Academy. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Longtime world ski president Kasper dies at 77". ESPN. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
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