According to Markku Haapasalmi, President of the Finnish Ski Association, the national ski associations do not have the decision-making power to exclude athletes from any country from competitions under the FIS, such as the World Cup.
The Norwegian Ski Association demands that Russian athletes not be allowed to compete in future World Cup competitions or championships in Norway. Among other things, the news was reported NRK (switch to another service).
Holmenkollen in Oslo will compete in the World Cup in Nordic skiing next week.
– The attack on Ukraine and the suffering we are now seeing has meant that sport cannot remain neutral or passive. Therefore, the decision of the Norwegian Ski Association is clear. This must have greater consequences than has already been decided. We are sending a clear message to the International Ski Federation that we do not want Russia or Russian athletes to compete in Norway in the coming weeks, the Norwegian Federation informed.
Chairman of the Finnish Ski Association Markku Haapasalmi emphasizes that Norway’s position is so far only a wish, not a formal decision to exclude Russian athletes from events in Norway.
– No union per se has the power to exclude any athletes from the competition, but there is always room for hope. That is their wish. All I can say is that they have now come to such a solution, Haapasalmi told Sport in Lahti.
The Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Ski Associations decided on Thursday not to send their teams to Russia for the World Cup finals. The next day, the International Ski Federation (FIS) announced that all the races scheduled for Russia for the rest of the season would be canceled.
– We really do not have the power to exclude athletes from any country. Especially when we are already here in the competition in Finland, I take it for granted that they compete here. We have stuck to those matters where we have decision-making power, Haapasalmi said.
The International Ski Federation FIS could decide to exclude Russia from international skiing competitions. The decision on all sports, in turn, would come from the International Olympic Committee.
– Undoubtedly, it is a pretty effective sanction in this series of sanctions. It remains to be seen, and it also depends on how long the crisis lasts, Haapasalmi said.
The Ski Association has responded to the statements of the Finns
According to Haapasalmi, the Ski Association has received several contacts demanding that Russians be prevented from participating in the Salpausselä Games.
– We can’t stop them from competing. There have also been strong statements and we have responded to them. Many of them have understood, Haapasalmi said.
Ilta-Sanomat (you switch to another service) reported on Friday night that security measures at the Salpausselä Games were being tightened due to threats against Russian athletes. The security arrangements have relied on the expertise of the authorities.
– Above all, our organizational mechanism has been in contact with the authorities. The authorities carry out risk analyzes and work with the race organization on that basis. This has been taken care of as well as it can be taken care of to ensure the safety of Russian athletes here. Of course, I can’t go into details, Haapasalmi said.
Haapasalmi says that he has followed with interest the attitude of the spectators of the Salpausselä Games towards Russian athletes, such as cross-country skiers. No statements have been made at the events of the race, and Russian athletes have been treated neutrally.
– I am really glad that the sports people think about these athletes. The Russians have also been given applause. Here, too, I would like to say that we strongly condemn the barbaric attack on Russia and we have very great sympathy for the people of Ukraine.