FIS Leader’s Seminar Held In Pristina

The annual FIS Development Programme Leaders’ Seminar was successfully staged in Pristina (KOS) last week thanks to excellent organisation by the Ski Federation of Kosovo. More than 35 participants representing 18 nations attended to learn more about the main theme: “Sponsoring for National Ski Associations” and interact with each other and the FIS staff. Additionally the National Olympic Committee, the Sports Ministry and media from Kosovo attended and contributed to the seminar.

During two days, the participants received a number of presentations and took part in active workshops on a variety of topics designed to give them tools to implement sponsoring initiatives and activities back in their home countries.

To open proceedings, FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis and Andreas Wenger, FIS Head of Services, updated the participants about FIS activities since the FIS Calendar Conference in Cavtat-Dubrovnik (CRO) and looked ahead to the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

The lecturers came from within the ski family and included Selim Maloku, Secretary General of the Ski Federation of Kosovo, Juerg Capol, FIS Marketing Director and Pascal Sommerhalder, Infront Head of Business Intelligence & Marketing Solutions. Bojan Brujicki Managing Director of Viessmann, Belgrade spoke from the sponsor’s perspective and Jon Vidar Thorvaldsson, Secretary General of the Icelandic Ski Association and Ibër Alaj, Head of Sports Department Kosovo gave a comprehensive insight the structure of sponsoring and commercial activities in their National Ski Associations.

The Ski Federation of Kosovo successfully hosted their first FIS official meeting and welcomed all participants to the country’s capital Pristina. Their dinner invitation to a traditional restaurant serving delicious local specialties was an ideal way to conclude the seminar sessions.

FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis added: “This year’s FIS Development Programme Leader’s Seminar certainly achieved its objectives with highly positive feedback from the participants, which is the main goal. There was great engagement on a very relevant topic during the workshops with discussions continuing through the more informal settings too. The Ski Federation of Kosovo earned our sincerest thanks for their passionate efforts to welcome the FIS Family in Pristina and contributing to the organisation of the FIS Leaders Seminar that will help grow our sport.”