FIS president Alexander Ospelt defends proposed annual world championship schedule

FIS president Alexander Ospelt is defending a proposal to move toward annual world championships for skiing and snowboarding starting in 2028 or 2032. The governing body recently approved the concept for all non-Olympic years, a shift from the current biennial format. Ospelt argued that annual events would provide financial benefits for athletes and offer more competitive goals for smaller nations while potentially expanding the sport into markets like China, Japan, and South Korea. However, the Austrian Ski Federation has publicly criticized the move, citing concerns over potential inflation, the dilution of sporting significance, and the negative impact on the consistency of the World Cup circuit. Critics also drew comparisons to controversial expansion plans previously proposed by FIFA. Ospelt has scheduled discussions with the Austrian Ski Federation for Wednesday to address these concerns and refine the long-term calendar.

• 8:18 PMYahoo Sports — FIS boss defends plans to stage annual world championships