Former Secretary Generals

GIAN FRANCO KASPER (SUI) 1978-1998
Secretary-General of the FIS from 1975-1998 and President from May 1998.
Born 24th January 1944 at St.Moritz (SUI). Studied psychology, philosophy and journalism at the University of Zurich. From 1969 onwards he contributed to different newspapers and edited the "Courrier de St-Moritz" in four languages. In 1974, he took charge of the management of a new Swiss Tourist Office at Montreal (CAN) before entering the management of the FIS in 1975.
Before joining the FIS, he worked for ten years at the St. Moritz tourist office while at the same time belonging to the organising committees of several skiing World Cups, and the World Championships at St. Moritz in 1974 where he presided over the publicity press and public relations sections, and of the World Championships in Bobsleigh or the European Championships in Yachting and Riding. In 1975 Marc Hodler (President of FIS) brought him to Berne to take over the function of the FIS Secretary-General. Subsequently he became a GAIFS Council Member, member of the IOC, member of the IOC Commission for Radio and Television and the IOC Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City 2002 and the Olympic Winter Games in Torino 2006 as well as Member of the Executive Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

SIGGE BERGMAN (SWE) 1961-1979
Secretary General of the FIS from 1961 to 1979, having been founding Chairman of the Technical Committee for Nordic Skiing from 1946 to 1961. Editor-in-chief of the FIS Bulletin from 1961 to 1979. Honorary Member of the FIS.
Born 31st July 1905 at Luleå (the most northern part of Sweden), he became Director of gymnastics at the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics at Stockholm. After a stay in Austria and Switzerland (1935-1936) where he perfected his theoretical knowledge of alpine skiing, he introduced alpine disciplines into Sweden. He took part in skiing and athletics competitions, as well as football and hockey matches. He has been a journalist in Stockholm since 1937, and member of the executive committee of the Swedish Ski Association from 1939 to 1976, as Secretary General, treasurer and President. Honorary President. Editor-in-chief of the Annual Journal of the Ski Association (for 36 years).From 1955 to this day, he has been legally responsible for the publication of the official review of the Swedish Ski Association. President of the organising committee for the world alpine and nordic skiing championships which took place in Sweden in 1954.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Swedish Sports Federation from 1956 to 1959. Secretary General of the Organising Committee for the European Athletics Championships in 1958 at Stockholm. Member of the Executive Committee of the Swedish NOC from 1953 to 1976 and vice-President from 1971 to 1976. Honorary Member. Chef de Mission at the 1972 Olympic Games at Munich and at the 1976 Games at Montreal. He has attended all Summer and Winter Games since 1936 as a journalist or technical official. From 1978 he was a faithful contributor to the "Olympic Review". He died in 2000.

ELNAR BERGSLAND (NOR) 1949-1951

Secretary General of the FIS between 1945 and 1951, then member of the Council up until 1969, President of the Commission from 1951 to 1953, and Honorary Member until his death in 1982.

Born in 1910 in Norway, he spent his life at Holmenkollen, that skiing paradise, of which he was a life-long promoter. A talented nordic skier, he beat the legendary Grottumsbraten, yet did not hesitate later to encourage the introduction of alpine disciplines in his country.He practised many competitive sports, and was national rowing and golf champion, and nordic champion in dog racing across snow. An organiser, diplomat, writer, he has been, amongst other things, an influential and respected member of the organising committee for the events at Holmenkollen for 35 years, including 14 years as President.

JACOB DE RYTTER KIELLAND (NOR) 1938-1949

Secretary General of the FIS from 1938 to 1949.

Born in 1909 at Oslo (NOR). Civil Engineering graduate of the Zurich Technological Institute, an excellent specialist both in ski-jumping - winner at Holmenkollen in 1938 and 1940 and in slalom - best Norwegian in the first competition in modern slalom to be held in his country. In 1933, he became the closest collaborator of Nicolai Ramm Östgaard who, when he presided over the FIS, had him appointed Secretary General. He died in 1982.

INGVALD SMITH-KIELLAND (SUI) 1934-1938

Secretary General and treasurer of the FIS from 1934 to 1938.

Norwegian, born in 1890. Member of the Association for the Promotion of Skiing in Norway from 1912 to 1918. President of the Norwegian Ski Association from 1934 to 1936.

CARL GUSTAF DAVID HAMILTON (SWE) 1926-1934

Secretary General of the FIS from 1926 to 1934, then vice-President until 1946.

He became acting president during the Second World War and managed to preserve the total independence of the FIS.Born 1882. A professional soldier, and army colonel. Excellent rider and fervent ski enthusiast. A member of the FIS Council from 1924 to 1949.Official delegate of the Swedish Ski Association, and a keen skier, he was one of the promoters of the alpine disciplines - Arnold Lunn often maintained that Halmilton was the only Scandinavian who gave him his wholehearted support. He died on 29th September 1968.

CARL NORDENSON (SUI) 1924-1926

Secretary General of the FIS from 1926.

Swedish, born in 1871, died 1959. Member of the International Skiing Commission from 1921 , he took over the vice-presidency up until 1924.One of the founders of the Association for the promotion of skiing in Sweden, in 1892. All his life, he was deeply involved with this association and he initiated the setting up of the Swedish Ski Museum.