Gian-Franco Kasper

Gian-Franco Kasper was a long-time sports administrator best known for his time as President of the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) from 1998-21, serving six terms of office. With a degree in psychology, philosophy, and journalism from the University of Zurich, Kasper was originally a journalist with the local Courier de St. Moritz but then worked in the tourism industry, where he led the Swiss National Tourist Office in Montréal. Former FIS President Marc Hodler asked Kasper to serve as his secretary-general, which began his career in sports administration, serving with FIS in some capacity for 46 years.

Kasper also was President of the Association of Winter Sports Federations (AIWF) from 2000-02 and again from 2014-20. He served as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations in 2015-16. Named an IOC Member in 2000 as President of AIWF, he was on the IOC until 2018, at which time he was named an Honorary Member and received the Olympic Order. A member of the IOC Executive Committee from 2016-17, he was on the IOC Coordination Commission for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, and chaired the IOC Coordination Commission for the first Youth Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer in 2016.