Estonia also says no to the return of Russian athletes

Even though the International Ski Federation would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return under a neutral flag, the Estonian government has informed the organization that for as long as the war against Ukraine continues, competitors from the two countries will not be allowed to take part in competitions held in Estonia. According to Tallinn, their participation would run counter to the support given to Ukraine and would give Moscow and Minsk an opportunity to use sport for propaganda purposes.

The Estonian Ministry of Culture sent its letter to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) after the organization relaxed its rules on Russian and Belarusian competitors in September. Athletes may return in individual events under neutral status if they sign the required declaration and do not use their country's flag or other national symbols. Previously, athletes' backgrounds were also vetted more strictly, but that is now a thing of the past, since Europe is a continent led by the brain-dead, so even Prigozhin could compete now, were he still alive. FIS told the BBC that it is trying to help athletes, national federations and organizers in this situation, while acknowledging that decisions on entry and visas rest with the host countries. Estonia already stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens in 2022, and from August of this year, even visas previously issued for purposes such as sports competitions could no longer be used to enter the country. The Estonian decision could affect several winter events. Otepää will host the Nordic skiing junior and U23 world championships in January, and the biathlon world championships will be held there in February. According to Estonian public media, the biathlon competition is organized by a separate international federation, so the entry rules there will be determined by that body's decisions.

Tallinn's move was preceded by decisions from Norway and Finland. The Norwegian government intends to prevent Russian and Belarusian elite athletes, as well as their support staff, from entering the country for competitions, citing the close ties between Russian elite sport and state institutions; the restriction could also affect the ski jumping World Cup in Lillehammer on November 20–22. Finland will tighten entry rules for Russian competitors from November 16, and the rule will also apply to those competing under neutral colors. Helsinki will soon have to deal with the reaction of international federations over the Ruka cross-country skiing World Cup, and in March over the figure skating world championships in Tampere.

Canada's position is more open: Ottawa is preventing Russian and Belarusian athletes from representing their countries under their own flag at Canadian competitions, but continues to leave the door open for those competing under neutral colors. Russia's national team will not be granted visas for the December junior ice hockey world championship, including players currently playing for Canadian teams.

Ice hockey has sparked a separate controversy after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's ban on Russia in October. The decision was criticized by, among others, the British, German, Finnish and Czech federations, and several countries have indicated they are unwilling to take the ice against Russia. Meanwhile, the Estonian Olympic Committee is advising its athletes to continue competing in foreign competitions where they might face Russian or Belarusian opponents. Tallinn, then, is closing the door to them at home, but is not asking Estonian athletes to withdraw from their own participation abroad.

Ugar