48th International Ski Congress - 2012 - Kangwonland (KOR)

Historical first FIS Congress in Asia

The brand-new Kangwonland Hotel hosted the 48th International Ski Congress in the Gangwon Province of Korea from 27th May-2nd June 2012. More than 760 participants attended the first FIS Congress ever in Asia. The biggest delegations among the participating 75 National Ski Associations, besides the host nation Korea, were those of Canada and USA with more than 20 representatives each.

Outstanding Korean hospitality

Kangwonland 2012 will especially be remembered by the great hospitality of the Korean hosts, who organised various events to make everyone feel at home also outside of the program of meetings, with dinners and entertainment offered by the Korea Ski Association, President of the Organizing Committee of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Governor of Gangwon Province, as well as by the High1 Resort. On the first evening, following the official opening and reception by the host Korea Ski Association, the delegates were treated to a futuristic laser show over the lake of the Kangwonland Hotel, followed by a magnificent fireworks display that will remain in the memory of all. They were also offered the opportunity to participate in traditional tea ceremonies, receive a glimpse of Kimchi-making and explore the Gangwon Province. Not to be forgotten is the now famous 'Sports Bar' exclusively built for the FIS Congress participants which hosted a splendid evening of Korean karaoke!

Visit to PyeongChang 2018 venues

The week’s highlights included the election of the 2016/2017 FIS World Championship Organisers, the election of the FIS Council, as well as an excursion to the future venues for the Olympic Winter Games 2018. The full-day journey provided an insider look into venues approximately 50 km north of Kangwonland. The Alpensia Cluster will be the home to all FIS ski and snowboard events during the 2018 Games. The vision of PyeongChang 2018 is to create a sustainable legacy by making the Gangwon Province a hub of winter sports and tourism in East Asia.

As has become customary, the Congress took on an international atmosphere during the exhibition where the World Championship Candidates greeted delegates whilst showcasing local culture. Regardless of strict custom regulations in Korea, they managed to present a wealth of tasty cuisine at their booths. From Are’s delicious mushroom soup to traditional Zakopane Krakowska sausage, honey chocolate from Planica, Italian coffee and parmesan from Cortina d'Ampezzo, Lebkuchen from Kulm, Weissbier from Oberstdorf, Swiss chocolate from St Moritz and red wine from Spain. Meanwhile, Lahti focused on real-time Facebook picture uploads of their guests along with its Finnish vodka offer.

The 2012 Congress also saw the staging of the 3rd FIS Ladies Seminar which starred the female, Cross-Country sprint World Cup 2012 winner and FIS Athletes’ Commission member Kikkan Randall (USA) who discussed female participation in sport. The program focused on “Medical Issues in Female Sport” that were elaborated further by FIS Medical Committee members Larry Gaul (USA) and Hans Spring (SUI), among others.

President Kasper receives FIS flag from top of the world

The FIS Congress itself convened on Friday, 1st June 2012. A special highlight of the 2012 Congress was the presentation of the FIS flag that summited Mount Everest to FIS President Gian Franco Kasper by President of Nepal Ski Association Jeevan Ram Shrestha.

As required by the FIS Statutes, the Congress elected the FIS Council for the upcoming two-year period 2012-14, including two new members in the total of 16. It also adopted criteria defining the eligibility of FIS Council members including qualifications to run and hold such a position, and a revision of the so-called Rule 208 dealing with the "Exploitation of Electronic Media Rights." The intention of the rule change is to ensure that technological changes in the distribution of information are better reflected in the regulations.

As part of the statutory business the accounts and reports of the auditors were approved as well as the budget for the two year period 2012-2013. Based on the Council’s proposal CHF 8 million from the result of the financial period 2010-11 along with an additional 2 million from the FIS reserves will be distributed to the National Ski Associations. Together with the budgeted support of CHF 10 million for 2012-13, a total of 20 million will be paid out over the next two years from FIS to the member Associations for the promotion of skiing.