Norwegian ski officials demand clarification on Russian visa policy ahead of Falun championships

Swedish ski and sports federations have approached their government to refuse visas to Russian competitors for the ski world championships scheduled for late February to early March in Falun. In response, Norway's ski federation president Roger Finjord said that his organization requires an official clarification from Norwegian authorities regarding Russian visa applications. Zaineb Al-Samarai, president of Norway's sports federation, affirmed that Norway's position opposing Russian and Belarusian participation in international events remains unchanged since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and that visa policy is a matter for the government.

The upcoming world cup events in Trondheim and Lillehammer this season will feature athletes with neutral status. Russian skier Savelij Korostelev expressed disappointment that politics is influencing sport. The dispute highlights the tension between sporting bodies and national foreign-policy decisions.