Finland, Norway Move to Ban Russian Athletes Over Ukraine War

Finland and Norway announced plans Thursday, Nov. 12, to block Russian athletes from competing in international sporting events on their territory as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, challenging efforts by international sports federations to reinstate Russian competitors. Finland unveiled tighter visa and entry restrictions for Russian athletes, including those competing under neutral status, with the measures taking effect Nov. 16. Hours later, Norway announced plans to deny entry to Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and their accompanying support staff.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “As long as Russia’s war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said in an official statement. “Their entry into the country would be a threat to Finland’s international relations,” she added. Both countries said the restrictions were necessary as international sports bodies increasingly allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions, despite Moscow’s continuing invasion of Ukraine. Finland closes visa loopholes for Russian athletes Under the Finnish government’s new resolution, Russian citizens seeking to work in Finland on short-term Schengen visas will generally be admitted only for activities considered essential to the country’s national interests. Professional sports will not qualify. The restrictions also cover athletes competing without Russian national symbols, closing a route that previously allowed some competitors to participate internationally under neutral status. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky says the next negotiations will address possible ceasefires, while Kyiv and Moscow agree on a potentially record POW exchange. According to Finland’s Foreign Ministry, the measures will apply regardless of whether Russian citizens enter directly from Russia or through another Schengen country. “The aim of the change is to prevent entries that Russia could use to spread messages supporting its war,” Valtonen told reporters. She accused Moscow of using sports as a “tool for propaganda.” Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia and has maintained strict entry restrictions on Russian citizens since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The latest measures take effect Monday, Nov. 16, ahead of several major international winter sports competitions. Norway extends restrictions to Belarusian athletes Norway announced similar measures hours after Finland, saying Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and their support teams would be denied entry for sporting competitions. In an official statement, the Norwegian government said immigration authorities and police would be instructed to refuse entry to the affected athletes. The changes are expected to take effect shortly, although Oslo did not announce a specific date. “Norway already has a restrictive visa practice for Russian and Belarusian citizens, but is now further tightening who is allowed to travel here,” Justice and Public Security Minister Astri Aas Hansen said. The Norwegian government argued that Russian elite sports maintain close relationships with state authorities and therefore cannot be separated from Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Belarus has supported and facilitated Russia’s military campaign, including allowing Russian forces to use its territory during the invasion. Norwegian Culture and Equality Minister Lubna Jaffery said Oslo opposed the return of Russian and Belarusian professional athletes to international competition while the war continues. The announcement could affect the cross-country skiing World Cup in Trondheim in December. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under certain conditions, including restrictions on national symbols and requirements to declare neutrality. Finland blocks Russian athletes’ return Finland’s decision has raised questions about the Figure Skating World Championships scheduled for March 2027 in Tampere. The International Skating Union (ISU) said it was examining the implications of the restrictions and seeking clarification from Finnish organizers. In a statement, the ISU said it believed athletes should not be punished for their governments’ actions, citing the number of conflicts worldwide. The governing body said it would make no further comment until it received additional information. The restrictions could also affect upcoming cross-country skiing competitions in Finland, including the World Cup opener in Ruka on Nov. 27-29. Ukraine welcomes restrictions, urges European action Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha welcomed Finland’s decision and called on other European governments to follow its example. In a post on X, Sybiha urged European countries to “close the remaining loopholes” and strengthen coordinated pressure on Russia. The announcements come amid a wider dispute over Russia’s possible return to international sports. On Oct. 30, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a ruling opening the way for Russia’s return to international ice hockey competition. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which had excluded Russia following the February 2022 invasion, opposed the ruling. Finland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Czech Republic have indicated they would refuse to face Russia at the World Championships scheduled to take place in Germany. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Russia would not be allowed to compete at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships in Alberta. Meanwhile, the Finnish city of Turku warned it would withdraw from hosting the 2027-28 edition of the tournament if Russia participated. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.