The wrestling association hopes with folded hands that Russia’s insolent demands will stop at the visa process at the latest. That wouldn’t be the most honorable retreat either, writes Pekka Holopainen.
Pekka Holopainen Sports journalist
There is hardly an Olympic-style sport in the world where you wouldn’t realize that professional development is a necessity if you want to keep up with the times.
The most traditional of the traditional and the most brutal of the brutal Olympic sports, wrestling certainly does not deviate from the line.
However, the Finnish Wrestling Federation, which is preparing for its biggest test of strength in decades, i.e. the organization of the under-23 World Championships, will be swimming upstream from this view in the near future.
There are already a lot of cauliflower-eared young people competing in these games, who are serious about taking both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling medals next year at the Paris Olympics.
Hands crossed
This time, however, the Wrestling Federation hopes with folded hands that the competitions organized in Tampere’s Hakametsä will be considered an amateur sport, in no way a professional sport, in accordance with the Olympic ideals that were hollowed out a long time ago.
The organization has a hundred good reasons for these prayers, the main ones being its reputation and state aid from the Ministry of Education and Culture. That’s what Painiliitto received last time, 320,000 euros.
The evaluation is done by a rather unusual body in wrestling, i.e. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. That, and probably only that, can offer a way out of the terrible reputation loss for a species fighting an existential battle for its living space in Finland.
in Russia’s back pocket
It’s about the policy of the International Wrestling Federation, or United World Wrestling. The sport that is in Russia’s back pocket – completely common knowledge that sports people do not hide in any way – is one of those that have opened the way back to international competitions for athletes from Russia and Belarus.
At the same time, UWW of course closes international competitions to Ukrainian wrestlers. They understandably do not agree to appear on the same forums as the country that has invaded Ukraine.
The UWW’s top, seven-member board of trustees consists of two Russians, one Uzbek, and the chairman is Russia’s European puppet, i.e. Serbia Nenad Lalovic, so the votes are at least 4–3. The shameful decision was therefore logical.
Blindfolded hand grenade
Russia and Belarus have been released under certain, cosmetic conditions, with a “neutral” status. From recent experiences, even at the Olympic level, we know that this status only underlines the nationality of “neutral” athletes even more.
Last week, UWW then threw this blind hand grenade into the hands of the Finnish Wrestling Federation. Chairman Lalovic asked his colleague From Pekka Paavolahow Finland ensures that Russians and Belarusians can participate in the World Championships in Tampere in October.
The association consulted the head of consular affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the matter Jussi Tanner. He told about UM’s current government-level decisions in principle regarding the entry of Russians.
If it is a professional sport that requires a short stay in the country, such as the Russian NHL hockey players who played in Tampere in November, the requirements for entry may be met.
But if it is about amateur sports, they are basically not fulfilled. This is where the great hope of the Finnish Wrestling Federation now rests.
UWW gave Finns until Wednesday of this week to respond. The reason for this is, of course, to move the games to somewhere where the hostilities of the eastern neighbor are treated more favorably.
Last week, the wrestling federation replied to UWW that it cannot influence the visa process, which is absolutely true.
But if the organization’s board of trustees really broke down, it would alone inform the UWW that Russians and Belarusians have no business in the Games at all, there’s no point in even bothering with the visa process.
The UWW threatened Spain in the same way and for the same reason. It kept a cool head. The Under-20 European Championships ended in Santiago de Compostela on Sunday, without Russia and Belarus, with Ukraine.
Pekka Holopainen
The author is a columnist based in Pori and the only sports reporter who has been selected as Journalist of the Year in Finland.
What thoughts did the story evoke? You can discuss the topic on 4.7. until 11 p.m. Tunnus is required for commenting.