Finland and Norway have announced new measures to restrict the participation of Russian athletes in international sporting events held within their borders, as Russia’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine continue. In Norway, these measures extend to Belarusian professional athletes and their support staff as well.
Starting November 16, Finland will enforce stricter visa and entry regulations for Russian athletes, even those competing under a neutral status. According to Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, professional sports will not be considered a valid reason for short-term entry, regardless of the athletes’ travel routes. Valtonen emphasized that Russian athletes should not compete in Finland as long as the conflict persists, accusing Russia of leveraging sports for propaganda purposes.
Norway has similarly directed its immigration authorities and police to block entry for Russian and Belarusian athletes and their teams for sporting events. These restrictions are expected to be implemented shortly, potentially affecting major international competitions such as the cross-country skiing World Cup in Trondheim this December and the Figure Skating World Championships set for Tampere in March 2027.
The International Skating Union is seeking clarification from Finnish organizers regarding the impact of these new restrictions. These steps by Finland and Norway challenge the stance of international sports federations that have allowed some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral status.
Ukraine has welcomed Finland’s decision and has called on other European nations to adopt similar measures. The ongoing situation highlights the complex intersection of sports and international politics amid the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.