The International Ski Federation FIS canceled all the World Cup finals from Russia. The decision also had an impact on cross-country skiing, as the last race of the World Cup season was to be held in March in Tyumen.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has also been the number one topic for cross-country skiers preparing for the Lahti World Cup.
Athletes returning from the Chinese Olympic bubble woke up to events in the outside world no later than Thursday morning as Russia launched an attack on Ukraine from the east, south and via Belarus from the north. is following Russia’s attack in this case.
– It feels so incomprehensible that this can happen, and I probably don’t even fully understand it, because I don’t live there. This has spoken within the team, Krista Pärmäkoski tells Sport seriously.
In the Swedish team, the events in Ukraine have also been followed with shock.
– Obviously we’re talking about it. It seems incomprehensible and difficult to understand what is happening, a sprint star who has won three Olympic medals in Beijing House Dahlqvist says.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has been widely condemned in the sports world. The International Ski Federation FIS decided to move the World Cup competitions from Russia. The teams from Finland, Sweden and Norway, among others, had previously announced that they would skip the events.
The last competition of the World Ski Cup of the season was to compete in Tyumen, Russia, from 18 to 20 October. March.
The development of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has already been followed during the Beijing Olympics Joni Mäki was pleased with the decision of the Ski Associations not to send their teams to Russia.
– I had already decided in China that I would not go to Russia to compete, Mäki says.
King of Norwegian skiing Johannes Hösflot Kläbo announced on Wednesday that it was boycotting the Tyumen Games. The decision of the FIS a day later was awaited.
– Finally the FIS did something good in this situation. The union could have made the decision clearly earlier, but I am glad it was finally made, Kläbo commented.
Also Swedish national team skiers Jonna SundlingDahlqvist and Johan Häggström are pleased that the Russian race was canceled.
– It was definitely the right decision, Häggström emphasizes.
Katri Lylynperä it is not usually the case to take a stand on matters outside of sport, but in the case of war, the answer is easy.
– At the latest when your own safety comes to the skin, you have to take a stand. I currently have no desire to travel to Russia.
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has had a major impact on sporting events. For example, the final of the Men’s Football Champions League was moved from St. Petersburg to France and the Formula One Russian race has been canceled this season. Helsinki-based hockey club Jokerit decided to leave the KHL season.
The International Olympic Committee called on international federations to withdraw all their competitions from Russia and Belarus, which have supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The IOC also ruled that Russian or Belarusian flags or national anthems should not be shown at sporting events.
Russian athletes are not rejected
Skiers don’t feel they can do anything to improve the situation. That’s why athletes interviewed by say they focus on sports at this point.
– It’s clear we can’t do anything. However, the situation offers perspective. Skiing no longer seems so important, Dahlqvist says.
– It’s really sad to follow. I personally focus on skiing when nothing else can, Sundling commented.
Laheil also tried to ask the views of several Russian skiers in Lahti. Inside the team, it was reported that the athletes would not comment on the matter to the public.
Among other things Alexander Bolshunov coaching national team pilot Yuri Borodavko says Russian athletes oppose hostilities.
– Everyone hopes that peace will return to Ukraine. However, the situation should not be politicized. The task of our athletes is to ski and improve the world with their foreign competitors, Borodavko comments.
Do events that have shocked the world affect the intervals between athletes? Many hope not.
– I haven’t spoken to Russian athletes (since the attack). I don’t think this will change our attitude towards people. Despite everything, we need to focus on competing, Kläbo says.
Johan Häggström would like people to see the bigger picture and understand that Russian athletes are not responsible for the actions of the Russian state leadership.
– Russian skiers are certainly not behind these decisions. We need to understand that they are the people who are competing here.
The question of whether Russia should be excluded from international sports makes Katri Lylynperä pensive.
– The situation is not the fault of individual athletes. I’m not going to let you know which athletes are allowed to be in the race. It’s pretty challenging to start weighing.