Protest at Skiing World Cup: Armenia Opposes Azerbaijan’s Sponsorship

President of the Armenian Ski Federation Gagik Sargsyan stated during a live broadcast on his social media platforms that the federation will fully cover the fine imposed on national team member Mikael Mikaelyan following an incident at a Cross-Country Skiing World Cup stage in Italy.

The incident occurred during competitions held on December 31, when the Armenian athlete covered the word “Azerbaijan” on his racing suit while entering the start zone. The organizers stated that altering the official sponsor’s branding constituted a violation of regulations and imposed a fine on the athlete. At the same time, Mikaelyan was allowed to continue competing and was not disqualified.

“I welcome Mikael Mikaelyan’s actions. The federation will pay the fine in full,” Sargsyan said during a live broadcast on Facebook, emphasizing that the federation fully supports the athlete’s position.

FIS Sponsorship and the Role of Azerbaijan

According to Sargsyan, the incident was the result of a controversial sponsorship agreement signed in May 2025 between the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Azerbaijan. Under this agreement, the Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency became one of the federation’s major sponsors, after which the name “Azerbaijan” became a mandatory element on athletes’ uniforms at major international competitions, including World Cup stages and World Championships.

“This came as a surprise to us. We met with the leadership of the international federation and stated that we consider such a decision unacceptable,” Sargsyan noted.

He emphasized that, in his words, Azerbaijan effectively lacks a developed ski sport system — there are no active clubs, professional athletes, or regular competitions, and the country’s membership in FIS was formalized relatively recently.

Sargsyan also recalled that during the FIS Congress he raised the issue of Azerbaijan’s compliance with the federation’s requirements.

“By law, a national federation must have athletes and clubs. I asked a direct question — do they exist? I was told that work in this direction is ongoing,” he said.

Damaged Infrastructure in Jermuk

The president of the Armenian Ski Federation also separately addressed the situation in the resort town of Jermuk, where, according to him, military actions damaged sports infrastructure, including ski tracks licensed by the International Ski Federation.

“This is not a political issue, but a purely sporting one. We are talking about licensed facilities. I demanded that the Azerbaijani side condemn these actions, which would demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian principles in sport. I received no response,” Sargsyan stated.

Despite Armenia’s objections, Azerbaijan was accepted as a full member of the federation and later became one of its key sponsors.

Funding and the Upcoming Olympics

Sargsyan also linked the incident to chronic funding problems in Armenian winter sports. According to him, for many years the federation has unsuccessfully appealed to government institutions for support.

“We have been demanding funding from the government for years, but receive no response. At the same time, Mikaelyan has already secured an Olympic quota for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina,” he noted.

Against this backdrop, Sargsyan pointed out that Azerbaijan, despite the absence of active athletes in skiing disciplines, already hosts World Cup stages and invests significant resources in this area.

The Athlete’s Position

According to the federation president, after the start Mikaelyan explained his motives to competition officials, stressing that his actions were a form of protest against the imposed sponsorship branding. The organizers, Sargsyan noted, acknowledged the athlete’s position but pointed out the violation of regulations.

The federation president also stated that Mikaelyan does not consider the incident an isolated act of protest and does not rule out repeating similar actions in the future.

“He expressed his position. No matter how hard they try to punish him, a dignified Armenian remains a dignified Armenian,” Sargsyan said.

The Armenian Ski Federation clarified that the final amount of the fine will be paid after its official confirmation by the International Ski Federation and the competition organizers