The participation of Russians and Belarusians in international sports competitions has been talked about since the International Olympic Committee opened the door to their return two and a half weeks ago.
Almost the entire sports world banned Russians and Belarusians from international sports after Russia invaded Ukraine.
During the war, of course, Russians and Belarusians have been seen competing in individual sports without national symbols.
In the world’s toughest hockey league, the NHL, the effects of the war have hardly been seen: the president of Russia Vladimir Putin actively supporting Aleksandr Ovechkin paints and skill samples are constantly marketed.
The NHL all-star game played in Florida a week ago was marketed especially with Ovechkin’s face. A total of seven Russian players participated.
History researcher and doctor of political science working at the University of Turku Markku Jokisipilä states that the attitude of the NHL shows indifference.
– In international ice hockey, there is no player as strong as the NHL. They can act on their own accord. They can listen to the words or advice of the International Hockey Federation, but they don’t have to take them seriously, Jokisipilä commented in Urheilustudio.
During the all-star weekend, Ovechkin also took his four-year-old son Sergei to the rink in the skills competition. Czech goalkeeper legend Dominik Hasek was dismayed by the solution. He saw the gesture as spitting in the face of Ukrainians.
– The first thought that occurred to me was that the action was similar to that of a politician caught in a scandal. A child is a suitable protective shield there, says Jokisipilä.
Ovechkin has been criticized for not unequivocally condemning the war. He has smiled with Putin in numerous pictures over the years. According to Jokisipilä, the two are currently appearing in several photos on Putin’s website.
– Yes, the PR team in the NHL has certainly thought about this issue. I don’t know if the advice about the child came from the NHL PR team or if it was Ovechkin’s own bet. But it does look ridiculous when you think about what happens to Ukrainian children because of Russia’s actions, says Jokisipilä.
Jokisipilä sees that the NHL has been able to keep Ovechkin and other Russians as its advertising faces, because the war events are distant for the average hockey league follower.
– However, this does raise the same question as with other sports organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee and the International Football Association. Are they always up to date with what’s going on in the world? Do they understand the wider cultural significance of sport in the world? Chives remind.
The boss of the International Hockey Federation also surprised with his comments on Russia
In addition to the NHL, the International Hockey Federation has also caused confusion. IIHF President Luc Tardif stated to the media during a visit to Finland that the IIHF does not consider morality in its decision-making.
President of the Ice Hockey Association Harri Nummela reminds that Tardif has spoken above all about how the IIHF bases its decisions on the current rules.
– The International Ice Hockey Federation has made its decision from the perspectives related to safety and the health of the players. In these matters, the rules of the International Hockey Federation give a clear mandate and strong operational authority to the board of the federation. In all other aspects, the authorities are not so clear, says Nummela.
Nummela emphasizes that even in military matters, sports organizations operate according to their rules.
– Among other things, it is possible to appeal to various sports courts about the decisions of the International Hockey Federation. If the decisions are not based on the rules, they can be overturned, says Nummela.
According to Markku Jokisipilä, Tardif’s comments sounded special.
– The war is still going on. The grounds for closing Russia and Belarus were there. The big picture hasn’t changed at all. Why do you have to go to such a legal hole and split hairs? The watercress asks.
– Of course, the chairman of the international umbrella organization must think that the decisions follow the rules. However, I do not understand such a risk. The decision was made unanimously in the IIHF. Nothing essential has changed.
However, according to Nummela, the war must be over in order to think about the return of Russians and Belarusians to international national team hockey.
– The position of the Finnish Ice Hockey Federation is clear and unambiguous. Currently, there are no conditions for Russia and Belarus to return to international ice hockey activities. We have told this to the International Ice Hockey Federation. They know the position well, says Nummela.
According to Nummela, the hockey associations of Sweden, Czech Republic and Switzerland also think in the same way as Finland.
The researcher reminds us of the credibility problem of the Olympic movement
In international sports, however, it has recently been seen that the Nordic countries and the countries of Northern Europe in general are in the minority with their ideas.
Most recently, the French legend of the biathlon world championships Martin Fourcade took a strong stand in favor of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing. According to him, athletes cannot be banned from competing solely on the basis of nationality.
– Here, however, you have to be able to distinguish the size category of things and maintain perspective. You have to keep in mind that the big reason for shutting down the Russians still exists. Nothing has changed, at least for the better. You have to stick to the decision you made, says Jokisipilä.
In a long press release the other week, the International Olympic Committee’s executive board referred to the UN’s recommendations and concerns about discrimination when they answered why the IOC cannot ban Russians and Belarusians for the time being.
– If the International Olympic Committee is at all interested in itself and the credibility of the Olympic movement, it would be the worst possible disservice to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete in the Olympics in Paris. If and when the war in Russia continues, Jokisipilä says.
The IOC has said that it will investigate the return of Russians and Belarusians to the Games as neutral athletes, i.e. without national emblems.
Jokisipilä also does not swallow without biting that the status of a neutral athlete has any significance. He reminds that top sports in Russia are organized very state-led and are connected to the country’s political leadership.
– Then you understand how naive the idea of a politically neutral Russian athlete is. Let me remind you that Vladimir Putin invited all the Russian athletes who won medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics to his Kremlin. Even though they didn’t compete with national symbols, they were Russian and part of the country’s propaganda machine, Jokisipilä states.
What does the future of Russian hockey look like?
More than a decade ago, Vladimir Putin wanted to build the KHL, which had ambitious expansion goals into Western Europe. Helsinki Jokerit and Riga Dynamo have left the league in the last year. Jokisipilä, who is currently writing a text about the KHL, believes that the myth of the KHL is over in its previous expansion.
– I believe that we will return to the starting point. The KHL will remain the league of Russia and certain neighboring regions, such as Belarus and Kazakhstan, says Jokisipilä.
After the start of the war, Switzerland has participated in EHT tournaments instead of Russia in national team hockey. Last week, Harri Nummela met representatives of other countries in connection with the Swedish EHT tournament. They had discussed the future of EHT and had been satisfied with the current composition.
– Switzerland has handled its affairs excellently on and off the ice. I feel at the moment that Switzerland has come to EHT permanently and there to stay. Time will tell what others will play at EHT, Nummela formulated.