PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Russian and Belarusian citizens are also banned from the World Cup next season.
Good, thinks Gunde Svan.
– There must be some moderation, he says to Sportbibeln.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian citizens have been banned from the majority of sports. Recently, some sports have begun to open up to Russians and Belarusians again, although they are then allowed to compete under a neutral flag. Ahead of the 2023/2024 ski season, the International Ski Federation, FIS, had a decision to make.
Svahn and Dahlqvist
Skiing has previously opened up to once again allow Russian and Belarusian skiers under a neutral flag, and the choice was probably not completely obvious to the ski association. But the FIS finally came to the decision to ban Russians and Belarusians from the World Cup this winter.
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Two who have been clear in their position regarding competing against Russians and Belarusians are the Swedish skiing stars Lynn Svahn and Maja Dahlqvist.
– For my own part, it feels important to be clear about what I stand for, what I am willing to do, and what the consequences will be for me if a decision that I do not think is justified is made, Svahn said during a press conference in September , before FIS had made a decision on the matter.
Svan’s criticism
The decision for this season’s World Cup has been made. But FIS has new choices to make for the 2024/2025 World Cup, as well as for the Skiing World Cup at the beginning of 2025.
The idea of Russian and Belarusian skiers being welcomed back is unthinkable for the former cross-country skiing star Gunde Swanwho himself sat in FIS for a short period after his career.
– It would have been a disaster. Total disaster. Then FIS completely disappears, for me anyway. I’ve been there, so I know what those tours can be like and it’s not real… There’s a reason why I left, but that’s another story. But if there is something to be skimped on there, it is such a piece anyway, says Svan to Sportbibeln.
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Svan left FIS since he felt that he could not influence the federation, and that it was too political. Something he still criticizes today, regarding Russian and Belarusian skaters.
– I don’t know how to think to defend it (letting in Russian and Belarusian citizens). There must be some moderation. That politics should be mixed up with sports in that way – no, no.
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