Finland and Norway shut out Russian athletes, including neutrals

Finland’s government said on Thursday, 12 November, that Russian athletes would no longer be granted visas, including those competing under neutral status. Hours later Norway said it would not allow professional athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete on its territory.

Finland: only work in the national interest

Finland tightened its rules on short-term work visas, including for professional sport: Russian citizens holding a Schengen visa will be allowed to work only in tasks essential to Finland’s national interests. The rules take effect on 16 November, so they will not apply to this week’s NHL games in Helsinki, which feature several Russian players, LSM, the Latvian public broadcaster, reported.

“As long as Russia’s war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland. Their entry into the country would be a threat to Finland’s international relations,” Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

Norway: federations’ relaxations do not change its position

Norway’s government said it already had strict visa rules for Russian and Belarusian citizens, but recent relaxations by international sports federations meant more athletes and staff from the two countries might come to compete. Trondheim hosts a cross-country skiing World Cup event in December, and Russian and Belarusian skiers could miss it even though the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has cleared them.

What comes next

Finland hosts the figure skating world championships in Tampere in March. The International Skating Union (ISU) said it was “studying” the decision and had asked the organisers for clarification, arguing that athletes should not be punished for the actions of governments.

Finland’s move followed a ruling on 30 October by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that opened the way for Russia’s team to return to the ice hockey world championships. Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic have said they will refuse to play Russia in Germany next year.

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