Russian skaters can be allowed in the WC.
Then Jens Burman threatens a boycott.
– I am adamant that they should not be allowed to join right now, he says.
It was on Wednesday that the announcement came that caused the sports world to react. The IOC then decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in the 2024 and 2026 Olympics, despite the fact that there is currently a war and an invasion of Ukraine. The countries will compete under neutral flags, but many have reacted with anger.
Criticism of the new decision
In the skiing world, the criticism of the Russian skiers and the war against Ukraine has been enormous. Sweden and Norway have been at the forefront of the protests against skaters being allowed to participate, but the new announcement could mean that we will see Russian skaters already in the World Cup, which begins in mid-February. Before that, there is the Biathlon World Cup, but then no Russian skiers will take part.
However, Fis seems to have a slightly different position, and they write to Expressen that they will have the IOC’s assessment with them when they have their next meeting. When it is – and if it will be before the World Cup – is unclear, but what is clear is that many are already upset. Sebastian Samuelsson has already criticized the IOC’s decision loudly, and now the cross-country stars are also reacting.
READ MORE: Therefore, Jim Gottfridsson is stopped from a place on the bench in the WC – the national team’s announcement after the heavy injury
Threatening boycott
Jens Burman is adamant that he does not think the Russians deserve a place at the championships.
– I am adamant that they should not be allowed to join right now. They want to guarantee that Putin cannot stand there and show off his athletes if they win medals and ski very well. Because that’s what you’ve seen before, that he used the athletes as propaganda, that’s what’s going wrong. It is not possible to prevent it from occurring, he tells Expressen.
He is also strongly critical of them possibly being welcomed back to the WC this year.
– It would be sick in that case. I hope they don’t change that, he says.
Burman goes so far as to extend to a possible boycott.
– I think there would definitely be talk of a boycott in that case, from many of the Swedish riders.
READ MORE: The legendary Sven-Åke Lundbäck’s concern for the national skiing team – harsh words about the Swedish stars: “It looks poor”