Finland and Norway block visas for Russian athletes
Both Nordic countries will stop Russian and Belarusian sportspeople from entering to compete while the Ukraine war continues.
Finland and Norway have announced visa bans for Russian athletes. Norway will also bar Belarusian competitors and support staff from entering for sporting events.
Key takeaways
- Finland announced it would block visas for Russian athletes on Thursday
- Norway said hours later it would block Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and support staff
- Norway will host a cross-country skiing World Cup in Trondheim in December
- The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral conditions
Finland and Norway have moved to block visas for Russian athletes as the war in Ukraine continues. Finland announced the step on Thursday, and Norway followed hours later with a wider ban that also covers Belarusian competitors and their support staff. Norway’s government said it would prevent Russian and Belarusian professional athletes from coming to Norway to compete as long as the war in Ukraine continues.
Norway’s entry ban
Norway already has a restrictive visa practice for Russian and Belarusian citizens, but is now further tightening who is allowed to travel here, Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas Hansen said in a statement.
The government said it would instruct immigration authorities and police to refuse entry to Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and accompanying support staff if they come to Norway to take part in sporting competitions. The changes would enter into force shortly.
Context from Finland
Finland earlier on Thursday announced it would block visas for Russian athletes. Norway’s move follows that similar decision by its Nordic neighbour. The Norwegian government stated that Russian elite sport has close ties to Russian authorities and could therefore not be viewed independently from the war in Ukraine.
Impact on upcoming events
Norway is preparing to host a World Cup in cross-country skiing in December in the town of Trondheim. This decision means Russian and Belarusian athletes could be blocked from competing despite having been cleared by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. FIS has permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under certain conditions, such as not displaying any country symbols and signing a declaration of neutrality.
What happens next
Norwegian immigration authorities and police will enforce the new entry rules shortly. The December cross-country skiing World Cup in Trondheim will be the first major test of whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can take part despite federation clearance.
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