在国际奥委会主席候选人激烈角逐，向着本月20日最终结果冲刺的紧要关头，国际体育新闻协会联袂国际奥委会，邀请我们远程采访了七位IOC主席候选人，与他们展开对话。
在全球体育面临变革与挑战的时刻，谁能引领奥林匹克走向公正、可持续与团结的未来？63岁的国际滑雪联合会主席约翰·埃利亚施给出了坚定答案。
这是关于理想与担当的时刻。“我们只有一个地球，别无选择。”作为环保先锋和奥林匹克改革倡导者，他承诺“我始终确保碳抵消量是排放的十倍以上。”
连线埃利亚施与克尔斯蒂时，适逢应邀采访联合国环保大会。于是我的提问顺理成章围绕保护大自然与可持续发展。而两位IOC主席候选人的回复，也让我向本次联合国大会交出了两份满意的答卷。
赵雪湄：
你如何看待奥运会在全球体育生态系统中的角色，以及在推动冬季运动和奥运会的长期可持续发展方面的作用？
约翰.埃利亚施：
我认为国际奥委会（IOC）可以在这方面发挥巨大作用，因为如果我们回顾过去30年各国政府的努力，它们并未取得太大成功，我相信大家对此都有共识。因此，最终还是要靠我们每个人来推动变革。
地球并非为85亿人口如今的生活方式所设计，我们只有一个地球，任何其他解决方案都过于遥远，我们必须保护现有的一切，这是唯一的出路。通过体育和奥林匹克运动传播信息，加强公众教育，我相信我们可以对气候行动产生巨大影响。
赵雪湄：
如果有机会领导国际奥委会（IOC），你将优先推动哪些关键改革？
约翰.埃利亚施： 目前，我们正处于技术变革的关键时期。人工智能（AI）等新技术正在改变我们接触观众的方式，并为个性化体验提供无限可能。我相信，在未来几年内，增强现实（AR）眼镜将让观众可以随时随地无线流畅地观看体育赛事、电影等内容，完全按照个人需求定制。
IOC必须走在科技前沿，确保我们具备必要的技术，成为最佳合作伙伴。与品牌、赞助商建立紧密关系至关重要，而技术将在其中发挥关键作用。此外，我们需要吸引所有年龄段的观众，尤其是年轻一代。与年轻观众保持相关性，是IOC未来一切工作的核心。
作为环保先锋，埃利亚施最为关注这一选题，相关言论还包括：
埃利亚施强调，气候变化正成为冬季运动的生存威胁，体育界必须采取行动，避免环境灾难。他支持冬奥会“轮换举办”，限定少数核心城市，长期承办赛事，避免重复建设，实现资源可持续利用。对于夏季奥运会，他提倡因地制宜，灵活调整赛程，确保与各国际单项体育联合会（IFs）及其他赛事协调，应对气候变化的影响。
在他看来，体育界应发挥全球影响力，积极倡导气候行动。通过赛事平台和运动员榜样，激励更多人共同应对气候挑战。
针对私人飞机出行的质疑，他回应称，自己始终通过碳抵消超出自身碳排放10倍以上，并通过优化行程减少不必要的排放，确保环保承诺切实履行。
他始终认为，奥林匹克运动不仅是竞技舞台，更应引领全球体育生态系统转型，推动冬季运动的可持续发展。
对话埃利亚施的其他内容还涉及以下方面：
1. 女子体育需基于科学保护，避免意识形态影响。推进性别平等，确保女性在奖金、代表性和决策中拥有平等机会。
2. 奥运会应坚守价值观，不设奖金，优化赛事和赛制，确保竞技水平和观赏性。
3. 强调文化与艺术对奥运精神的重要性，结合科技提升公众参与。
4. 奥运会引领全球体育生态发展，简化赛事结构，以更少资源实现更多成果，推动可持续性。
5. 坚持体育中立，保障运动员参赛权，避免政治干预。
6. 严打兴奋剂和作弊行为，拒绝不公平和危险的“增强型”赛事。
7. 推动数字化和AI应用，强化观众体验，吸引年轻群体，拓展奥运影响力。
8. 拓展奥运版图至非洲、印度等地，从基层推广，扩大全球参与。
9. 促进治理透明，鼓励创新，支持新闻自由，保障媒体在体育传播中的作用。
Establishing a Green and Sustainable Bottom Line: May Zhao in Conversation with Johan Eliasch — The Olympics Must Take Responsibility for the Planet
As the race for IOC President intensifies, with candidates sprinting toward the final decision on the 20th of this month, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, invited us to conduct remote interviews with all seven IOC presidential candidates.
At a time when global sports face profound transformation and challenges, who will lead the Olympic Movement toward a future of fairness, sustainability, and unity? Johan Eliasch, 63-year-old President of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, offers a firm answer.
This is a moment that calls for vision and responsibility. “We only have one planet—there is no alternative,” he declares. As an environmental pioneer and advocate of Olympic reform, Eliasch promises, “I always ensure my carbon offsets exceed my emissions by more than ten times.”
When I spoke with Eliasch and Kirsty Coventry, I was also covering the opening day of the United Nations Environment Assembly. Naturally, my questions focused on nature conservation and sustainability. Their responses became my best contribution to the UN conference.
May Zhao:
How do you view the role of the Olympic Games within the global sports ecosystem, particularly in promoting the long-term sustainable development of both winter sports and the Games themselves?
Johan Eliasch:
I believe the IOC can play a major role here. If we look back at the past 30 years, government efforts have largely failed to deliver, and I think there is broad consensus on that. In the end, it’s up to each of us to drive change.
This planet wasn’t designed to sustain the current lifestyle of 8.5 billion people. We have only one Earth—any other solution is too distant. We must protect what we have. Through sports and the Olympic Movement, we can spread the message and strengthen public education, creating a huge impact on climate action.
May Zhao:
If elected President of the IOC, what would be your top priorities for reform?
Johan Eliasch:
We are at a key moment of technological change. Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are reshaping how we reach audiences, offering limitless possibilities for personalized experiences. I believe that within the next few years, AR glasses will allow viewers to watch sports events and films seamlessly, anytime, anywhere, customized to their preferences.
The IOC must stay at the cutting edge of technology to be the partner of choice for brands and sponsors. Technology will be essential. We also need to engage audiences of all ages, especially the younger generation. Remaining relevant to them is central to everything the IOC must do moving forward.
As an environmental advocate, Eliasch is particularly focused on sustainability, making several key points:
•Climate change is an existential threat to winter sports. He insists the sports community must act now to avoid environmental disaster.
•He supports a rotation system for hosting the Winter Olympics, limiting them to a few core cities. This approach avoids unnecessary venue construction and promotes sustainable resource use.
•For the Summer Games, he advocates flexible scheduling based on host conditions, ensuring coordination with international sports federations to address climate challenges.
•He believes the sports community should use its global influence to promote climate action, leveraging events and athletes to inspire collective efforts.
•On criticism over his private jet use, Eliasch states that his carbon offsets exceed his emissions by more than ten times. He emphasizes optimized travel plans and rigorous adherence to his sustainability commitments.
•He maintains that the Olympic Movement should lead the transformation of the global sports ecosystem toward sustainability, particularly in winter sports.
Other highlights from the conversation include Eliasch’s views on:
1.Women’s sports must be protected based on science, free from ideological influence. Gender equality in prize money, representation, and decision-making must be ensured.
2.The Olympics should uphold its core values, avoid prize money, and focus on optimizing events and formats for peak competition and entertainment.
3.Culture and art are vital to the Olympic spirit. Integrating technology can enhance public engagement.
4.The Olympics should lead the global sports ecosystem, simplifying structures, achieving more with fewer resources, and advancing sustainability.
5.The principle of neutrality must be upheld to safeguard athletes’ rights and prevent political interference.
6.Doping and match-fixing must be strictly opposed. He rejects unsafe “enhanced” competitions that compromise fairness.
7.Digitization and AI should be harnessed to improve audience experiences, attract younger fans, and expand Olympic influence.
8.The Olympic Games should extend to new regions, including Africa and India, supporting grassroots development and expanding global participation.
9.Governance transparency, innovation, and press freedom must be promoted to ensure media plays a vital role in Olympic coverage.