The Ministry of Education and Culture states that Finnish sports federations are even threatened by the success of state aid if athletes participate in the same competitions as Russian or Belarusian athletes.
Chairman of the Athletes Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Emma Terho says that there has been a heated discussion in the commission about the right of Russian athletes to participate in international games. The Athletes’ Commission acts as a link between the athletes and the IOC.
With its policy on Tuesday, the IOC board transferred responsibility for the competition rights of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international sports federations.
– There has been quite a lot of discussion. Criticism has come quite strongly from both Russia and Western countries. On the other hand, there have been comments that the conditions were stricter than expected. Depending very much on where and what kind of background you come from, the decision will be seen from different angles, Terho, who participated in the sports commission’s telephone meeting on Wednesday, tells Urheilu.
For example, a former biathlon star who belongs to the sports commission Martin Fourcade has demanded that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed back onto international fields.
Read more: The biathlon legend is ashamed if Russians and Belarusians are not allowed to the Paris Olympics – today’s stars are on completely different lines
Although the policy does not represent the Nordic countries’ position on a complete closure, Terho personally sees the policy as a better option than the full opening of international competitions to the representatives of a country waging a war of aggression.
According to Terho, who played in Naisleijon and Blues during his active years, the strict conditions will limit the number of Russian athletes in the sports that allow their participation.
– When a full closure covering all sports was not achieved, it is true that the sports will be in different situations and therefore the athletes will be the most important.
For example, competition rights cannot be returned to athletes who support the war, nor to athletes who work for the defense forces of Russia or Belarus or security authorities.
According to Terho, it is the competition of Russians who are in contact with the military that has worried many, especially Ukrainian athletes.
Meeting a Russian athlete would be difficult
Ministry of Education and Culture according to the policy (you will switch to another service) Finnish sports federations are threatened with a reduction or even loss of state aid if athletes participate in the same competitions as Russian or Belarusian athletes. According to Terho, the situation in which a Finnish athlete would have to face a Russian athlete is difficult.
– Of course, I hope that Finnish athletes would not find themselves in that situation. It’s not their fault in any way. They are not close enough to make an impact themselves. I see it as a bad situation if Finnish athletes have to suffer from this.
– What the situation will be and what kind of decisions the sports federations will make, it will certainly show the direction.
For example, Russians will no longer be welcome at the WA Games of the International Association of Athletics Federations.