Norway, Finland Bar Russian Athletes Over Ukraine War
Is this a lever that genuinely costs the Kremlin or collective punishment that wrecks innocent careers?
Above: Russia's Eduard Latypov competing at the 2021 Biathlon World Championship in Pokljuka, Slovenia. Image credit: Sven Hoppe/Contributor/picture alliance/Getty Images
The Facts
- Norway's government said Thursday it will refuse entry to Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and accompanying support staff traveling to compete there, as long as the war in Ukraine continues. The changes are to take effect "shortly."
- Finland said Thursday that Russian citizens will be allowed short-term Schengen work visas only for tasks essential to national interests, which excludes professional sport. The rules take effect Monday and apply to athletes competing as neutrals.
- Norway said Russian elite sport has close links to state structures and cannot be viewed separately from the war, and that Belarus supported Russia's war effort.
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The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Punishing skiers and skaters for decisions made in the Kremlin amounts to collective guilt and wrecked careers. Strict neutrality already strips flags, anthems and symbols, and sport's own courts signed off on that compromise. Tearing up valid visas for one nationality while dozens of other conflicts get a pass makes the standard look arbitrary.
Anti-Russia narrative
Russian elite sport runs on state money and state messaging, so every podium shot becomes free advertising for a war of aggression. Neutral flags fix nothing when the medals still get celebrated back home as proof that the world has moved on. Keeping the borders closed is the one lever that actually costs the Kremlin something.
