World ski body president Eliasch gets nomination for re-election from unexpected country

OBERHOFEN, Switzerland (AP) — The billionaire British-Swedish president of skiing’s governing body is standing for re-election as a candidate from the country of Georgia.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation on Wednesday published the list of five candidates for the June 11 election, which ended speculation about which member federation had nominated its incumbent leader Johan Eliasch.

The British snowsport federation nominated its chief executive Victoria Gosling for the FIS presidency and Swedish media reported this week its national federation would not back Eliasch, who has often been unpopular with European ski officials.

Sweden-born Eliasch, the owner of the Head sportswear brand that provides skis to many top racers including Lindsey Vonn, also is a citizen of his adopted home Britain.

He was nominated by the British federation before winning the FIS presidency in 2021, and was classed as a British candidate when he ran in the International Olympic Committee presidential election last year won by Kirsty Coventry. Eliasch has been an IOC member for two years.

FIS legal statutes require election candidates to “hold a valid passport with the nationality of their nominating member association”.

It was unclear until Wednesday where Eliasch would find his nomination and similarly unclear why he is now a candidate for Georgia.

The other candidates are Dexter Paine of the United States, Anna Harboe Falkenberg of Denmark and Alexander Ospelt of Liechtenstein.

FIS has said it will send a list of eligible candidates on May 20 to member federations, after a review by an international panel.

The election meeting in June is in Belgrade, Serbia.

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FILE - Candidate to the presidency of the International Olympic Committee Johan Eliasch arrives at the mixed zone during a break of the 144th session, which will elect the new IOC President, in Costa Navarino, western Greece, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The hottest new celebrity in Washington, D.C., is Asian elephant calf Linh Mai, who made her public debut Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. She is the first elephant calf born at the zoo in 25 years.

Mother elephant Nhi Linh gave birth to Linh Mai on Feb. 2 after nearly two years of pregnancy.

Robbie Clark, the zoo's elephant manager, said, “Linh Mai is a hoot, she's a fantastic little elephant to get to know.”

“She's very curious,” Clark added. “She's learning how to be quite playful with the enrichment and the environment that she's living in, and she's confident.”

The Asian elephants at the National Zoo live in an expansive area called Elephant Trails, which contains outdoor walkways and pools. Fans who can't visit Washington can check out Linh Mai on the zoo's elephant cam.

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, is bottle fed by elephant keeper Becky Shore, during her public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, makes her public debut, next to "auntie" Swarna, at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, copies "auntie" Swarna reaching into the hay feeder during her public debut at the National Zoo, in Washington, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People visit the Elephant Community Center as 10-week-old Asian elephant calf Linh Mai makes her public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, touches the hand of elephant keeper Becky Shore, during the calf's public debut at the National Zoo, Wednesday April 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)