The present invention relates to a binding element to which a boot or shoe fixing unit is attachable or attached so as to form a binding, in particular for connecting a boot or shoe to a sports device (5). The sports device (5) being in particular a ski (1), such as a cross country or touring ski, or a roller-ski (6). The sports device (5) is expected to comprise a longitudinally extending body (7) with a top surface (8). Said binding element, in the form of a mounting plate (10), is provided by a central longitudinal section (11) and at least one side section (12a, 12b) positioned on one or both of the long sides (15) of the longitudinal section (11). The central longitudinal section (11) has a width (13) which is approximately the same as the width of the top surface (8) of' the sports device (5), and the at least one side section (12a, 12b) has a width (14) which is less than the thickness of the sports device (5) to which the binding element is to be attached. Flexible joints (20) are provided between the central longitudinal section (11) and each of the at least one side sections (12a, 12b), such that the at least one side section (12a, 12b) can be bent out of the plane of' the central longitudinal section (11). Finally, the central longitudinal section (11) is adapted to be in contact with the top surface (8) of the sports device (5) and the at least one side section (12a, 12b) is adapted to be bent and brought into contact with the side of the sports device (5), by means of the flexible joints (20), to be attached thereto.