December 23, 2007 – FIS President Gian Franco recently received an honorary doctorate degree, “doctor honoris causa”, bestowed on him by the University of Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria. Kasper, a Member of the International Olympic Committee and Member of the Executive Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), was awarded this honor in recognition of his long-term engagement to benefit sports in general.

Awarded in a distinguished ceremony attended by dozens of representatives of the university, the city of Sofia and the media, the degree in particular acknowledges Kasper’s work to promote the Olympic values and the Olympic movement and his service for the sport of skiing, having served as FIS President since 1998 and as FIS Secretary General from 1975-1998.