According to quotes in an article following the interview, Kasper said that it was easier to organise the Olympic Games in countries governed by a dictatorship.

He also reportedly said that the Winter Olympics needed to come down in size and played down the impact of global warming.

Kasper later claimed his comments "were not meant to be taken literally, but this was not clear in the final story".

The 75-year-old Swiss, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also told ARD: "We have to face the facts and we have to see what I really said - not what came out later."

Tages-Anzeiger have stood by their article and claim their recordings prove their position.

"We stick to our presentation," the newspaper said.

On the subject of dictatorships, Kasper reportedly said: "Dictators can organise events such as this without asking the people's permission.

"For us, everything is easier in dictatorships."

It was thought to be a reference to the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chinese capital Beijing, where term limits for the President were abolished last year.

On the size of the Olympics, he allegedly suggested "we need to be careful not to kill ourselves by having too much".

This view was questioned as the FIS have far more events on the Winter Olympic programme than any other governing body, with the IOC distancing themselves from the quotes.

Kasper claimed his comments regarded concerns on having to build new venues for additional sports, leading to so-called "gigantismus".

He said this could be especially true in places where there is likely to be limited legacy use. 

On global warming, Kasper said he did not deny its existence, telling ARD: "I did not say that anyway."

The official apologised to athletes about the controversy caused by the interview, with both the Alpine and Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard World Championships taking place this month.

"First and foremost, I would like to apologise as these comments were not meant to be taken literally but this was not clear in the final story," he said.

"I take full responsibility for this misunderstanding and am sorry it has taken attention away from our athletes competing in the FIS World Championships."