Overview
- The Norwegian government announced it will refuse entry to Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and their accompanying staff when they come to compete in events on Norwegian soil.
- Oslo justified the move by saying Russia’s elite sport has close links to state authorities and that Belarus has supported Russia’s military actions, framing the ban as a response to the war in Ukraine.
- The restriction is expected to disrupt several winter World Cup stages hosted in the region, including the Lillehammer ski flying opening scheduled later this month, and organizers are still working out implementation details.
- International federations such as the International Ski Federation say athletes may be eligible to compete under sport rules but must still meet host‑country visa and immigration requirements.
- Other Western governments have announced similar measures recently, with Finland, Canada, Poland and Estonia limiting or banning Russian and Belarusian competitors, raising risks of diplomatic strain and logistical problems for events and athletes.