The Paniliitto, which came under scrutiny from the international umbrella organization, gave its answer to the demands of allowing Russians to the World Championships in Finland. The wrestling federation said that it cannot affect the athletes’ visas.
On Wednesday, the board of trustees of the Finnish Wrestling Federation finalized its response to the International Wrestling Federation UWW, which last week sent ukaas to Finland. The UWW demanded that Finland guarantee that all those who wish will be guaranteed visas for the Under-23 World Championships to be held in Tampere’s Hakametsä in October.
If the wish does not come true, UWW threatens Finland with moving the games to another place.
In practice, the ultimatum meant Russia and Belarus. The UWW has released the countries back into competition with a neutral status despite the war in Ukraine. Executive director of the wrestling association Pasi Sarkkinen told about the content of the essential reply sent to UWW:
– We cannot influence the visa process or make promises about it. Those are matters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When contacted by UWW, Painiliitto consulted the consular chief of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jussi Tanner. This was based on the Government’s guidelines, where professional sports that require a short stay in the country can be the basis for a visa, amateur sports cannot.
Based on this, Painiliito believes that Russians and Belarusians are not getting visas to Finland.
– The value competitions for young people have never, or in any sport, been considered a professional sport, says Sarkkinen, but emphasizes that the matter is not decided by the Paniniliitto.
Ukraine would boycott
If Russia and Belarus were to make it to the Games, it would be a big loss to Painiliito’s reputation. It would already be caused by the automatic boycott of Ukraine.
– It wouldn’t look good. But we are bound by the contract with UWW to organize the games. If there was an uproar over this, why wasn’t it the same when Russian NHL players came to Tampere?
Sarkkinen meant the Colorado and Columbus ice hockey matches played in Nokia Arena in November, in which the Russians of the teams also participated.
– We want to see the Ukrainian team in Tampere and we hope that the party that will continue to be responsible for the sport’s operating conditions in Finland will not be unreasonably blamed for this, Sarkkinen added.
When the UWW decided to end the ban on Russia and Belarus, the North and Baltic countries voted against it. UWW belongs to sports organizations where Russia and former Soviet republics are very influential.
– We knew that this would be difficult before the Tampere Games, says Sarkkinen.
Put it on the Russians
What makes the situation interesting is that the Tampere city government decided to close the city’s sports facilities to athletes from Russia and Belarus after the start of the war in Ukraine.
– It concerned those who represent the countries in question with national colors, so to speak, not as neutrals. The starting point is that the wrestling competition would preferably be held without these two, says the mayor of Tampere Kalervo Kummola.
A stricter interpretation would also have caused problems for NHL events, as the city of Tampere owns 40 percent of the Tampere arena.