FIS MEDIA INFO: FIS enters into exclusive negotiations with EBU regarding the sale of commercial rights to the FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 & 2017

Oberhofen, January 25th, 2010//- The International Ski Federation (FIS) is pleased to announce that the offer submitted by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for the purchase of the worldwide commercial (media and marketing) rights to the FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships in 2015 and 2017 has been accepted, subject to contract.

The Tender process launched by FIS in July 2009 for the purchase of the worldwide commercial rights to the FIS Championships in 2015 and 2017 generated significant market interest, despite the current difficult economic times.

"Following an exhaustive assessment of the many responses to the Tender that were received and a due diligence process, one proposal stood out. The FIS Finance Commission has now approved entering into exclusive negotiations with the EBU," said FIS President Gian Franco Kasper. "Our intention is to finalize the contract during March 2010. The EBU has been a long-term partner of FIS and we look forward to not only finalizing the contractual arrangements, but also to working together with the EBU to develop new and creative ways of making ski sport more exciting for the fans and TV viewers."

The FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships are recognized as two of the most important winter sports events on the annual sporting calendar, having attracted 1.1 billion television viewers worldwide for the 2009 Championships in Val d'Isère (Alpine events) and Liberec (Nordic events).

The venues that will host the Championships in 2015 will be elected by the FIS Council during the FIS Congress on 3rd June 2010. The candidate-applicants bidding to stage these Championships are for the Alpine Championships, Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy), St. Moritz (Switzerland) and Beaver Creek/Vail (USA), and for the Nordic Championships Falun (Sweden), Lahti (Finland), Oberstdorf (Germany) and Zakopane (Poland). The election for the 2017 venues will be taken at the FIS Congress in 2012.

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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 youth. For more information, please visit www.fis-ski.com.

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