Swiss Burkard Chases Upset Win in IBSF Election

(ATR) Fritz Burkard brings business acumen, abundant connections to the sliding sports and passionate commitment to the development of Para-bob and skeleton in his campaign for the presidency of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

The 51-year-old Swiss businessman and current vice-president of the St. Moritz Bobsleigh Club is one of two challengers to incumbent Ivo Ferriani, who is seeking a third term, having led IBSF since 2010. Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton president Sarah Storey – the daughter of Ferriani’s predecessor, Bob – is also in the running.

The election will be held at the IBSF Congress next month in Rome on June 27. Six vice-president positions are also at stake.

Burkard – who is not a member of the IBSF executive board – says "focus must be on the national federations" and funding must be improved.

"Each federation must have more money and more opportunities in their hands," Burkard tells Around the Rings. "More money starts by being focused on the cost side. The big challenge is that we have very high costs for each national federation regarding the materials – purchase, maintenance and transport. We also have rather high travel and hotel costs."

The Swiss businessman spent 11 years as a high-ranking manager with Sika, a specialty chemical company for building and motor vehicle supplies. He believes his business sense would serve the federation well if he unseats Ferriani.

"If we have a race calendar for two or three years, things can be planned much better and I can negotiate a higher volume with suppliers over a longer period," the Swiss businessman said. "And the local host can really create an event out of that weekend generating more media and more fans."

Burkard sees ample opportunities to further develop the sport in Asia, but warns the "cost factor must make sense".

"As we saw in PyeongChang – where was Korea 10 years ago and now they have a gold and silver medal," Burkard said, referring to South Korean Yun Sung-bin’s skeleton gold and the host country’s four-man bobsleigh silver medal. "This also makes it attractive for new nations, like China, who can invest into the sport because they can achieve top level in reasonable time."

Burkard was instrumental in the development of the Mono Para-Bobsleigh. The discipline is on track for the Beijing 2022 Paralympics.

"We have to sell Para sport – after the London Paralympics, the stories of these athletes are commercially very valuable," Burkard said. "You see the performance and passion. We can re-generate media awareness and sponsor income."

Burkard also strives to make the sliding sports more accessible to everyone. In St. Moritz – along with help from Prince Albert II – he commissioned the first junior start at the venerable natural track. He named it Monti’s Bolt – honoring the legendary Italian bobsleigh pilot Eugenio Monti – who was awarded the inaugural Pierre de Coubertin medal for his Olympic sportsmanship.

"Young people should know that sportsmanship is way more important than winning," Burkard said.

Burkard advised that he is also in favor of zero tolerance towards doping with proven cheaters being assessed lifetime bans.

If Ferriani were to lose the election to Burkard or Storey, the Italian would be forced to relinquish his IOC membership, which is tied to his position as IBSF president. Ferriani's nomination to the executive board, representing the winter sports federations, would also be voided since he would no longer be an IOC member.

Burkard says he is solely committed to advancing bobsleigh and skeleton to benefit the athletes and has no added motivation for a future position with the IOC.

"I have no aspirations for IOC or any career as a sports politician," Burkard said. "I want to focus 100 percent on the sport, athletes and national federations."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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