Cross-country skiing needs Russians back on the race tracks, says Calle Halfvarsson, one of Sweden’s top skiers.
13:51•Updated 13:53
The question of the possible return of Russian and Belarusian cross-country skiers to international competitions divides opinion in the Swedish cross-country team. Sprinter star Linn Svahn should the countries’ ski harness definitely valid, but experienced Calle Halfvarsson believes that cross-country skiing needs Russian skiers back on the racetracks.
In the majority of sports, Russians and Belarusians were excluded from international competitions when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The end of the war is still not in sight.
– You are almost used to this situation when they are not involved. This is sad, but at the same time, skiing is such a small sport that I think we still need Russians in our sport, 35-year-old Halfvarsson said in an interview with TT.
– Even though they have caused a lot of crap and misery in their history, they are still a great country in skiing and we need them. It’s both good and bad if they return to racing before the war is over. Everything would be weird. Will they compete without their ticket or how, Halfvarsson continued to ponder.
Svahn, 24, wants to keep the Russians out of the World Cup and major tournaments as long as the war continues.
– Nothing has changed, and therefore no change should be made, that’s my opinion.
Sweden’s second sprint winner Jonna Sundling admits he misses competing against the Russians.
– I think it would be fun if you could compete against everyone. I actually miss them. This is a very difficult situation. I can’t say what is right or wrong, 29-year-old Sundling said.
The position of the IOC worries the chairman
President of the Swedish Ski Association Karin Mattsson has followed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) stance on Russia with concern. According to Mattsson, the IOC may put pressure on the International Ski Federation FIS so that the Russians could participate in the Winter Olympics in February 2026.
– Such a risk definitely exists, Mattsson stated.
A handful of Russian and Belarusian athletes competed in the Summer Olympics in Paris, which ended last week, without national symbols.
Mattsson reminds that he and the other three Nordic representatives of the FIS board are strongly in favor of banning Russia and Belarus from competing. Serves as a Finnish member of the FIS board Martti Uusitalo.