Norway to block Russian, Belarusian athletes from competing in country

Norway is preparing to host World Cup in cross-country skiing in December. | Photo Credit: AFP

Norway’s government said Thursday that it would prevent Russian and Belarusian professional athletes from coming to Norway to compete, hours after neighbouring Finland announced a similar move.

It said that intended to prevent athletes from these countries coming to Norway as long as the war in Ukraine continues.

The government noted in a statement that while Norway already had strict rules for visas for Russian and Belarusian citizens, recent “relaxations introduced by international sports federations” meant that more athletes and support staff from the two countries may come to the Scandinavian nation to compete.

“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.

To this end, the government said it would instruct immigration authorities and police to “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”, the government said.

The statement said that Russian elite sport had close ties to Russian authorities and could therefore not be “viewed independently” from the war in Ukraine.

Norway is preparing to host World Cup in cross-country skiing in December in the town of Trondheim, but this decision means that Russian and Belarusian athletes could be blocked from competing despite having been cleared by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).

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.

The Norwegian move follows a similar decision by Nordic neighbour Finland, which earlier on Thursday announced it would block visas for Russian athletes.