FIS bans Russia and Belarus
Dette innlegget er også tilgjengelig i: Norsk bokmål Русский Українська
The International Ski Federation (FIS) maintains the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus. The reason is these countries’ attack on Ukraine. As expected, the reactions in Russia are negative. The reactions from Russia show how well a sporting and cultural reaction helps. It gets a lot of publicity in Russia.
Norway or Russia was FIS’s choice
The small country of Norway is a superpower in one area. There is skiing of all categories. Norway is the world leader in all sports involving skiing. If, contrary to presumption, the FIS wanted to take a different position than to exclude Russia and Belarus, Norway would most likely stay away along with some other countries.
The World Cup in cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combination or Alpine skiing without Norway would be a scandal for the FIS. Little Norway is the country that has won the most Olympic gold in the Winter Olympics. At the latest in the 2022 Olympics, Norway was the best nation. Opening up to Russia and Belarus would probably have kept other nations away. The FIS alternative was simple. Norway or Russia.
Ukraine a small skin nation
Yes, Ukraine is a small skin nation that rarely marks the top of the international price lists. Nor is Belarus a big skin nation. In biathlon, both nations are to be reckoned with and have several Olympic and world champions. But the biathlon association is its own organization and not in FIS.
This has nothing to do with whether it is a large or small skin nation. It has to do with principles. Attacking another country militarily is something that we did not think we would see in Europe in our time. It would also be against all principles to release athletes from the attacking countries while athletes from the defending country are at home fighting at the front or as volunteers to supply the front with food and other necessary equipment. Even if Ukraine is an insignificant skin nation, it would violate the principle of fighting on equal terms.
Russia and Belarus are welcomed back once they have ended their attack on Ukraine and withdrawn all forces from occupied territories, including the Crimean peninsula.
Sources:
Races: – Hypocrisy (dagbladet.no)
1 thought on “FIS bans Russia and Belarus”
Russia must be banned from all sports. Sad that they get to participate in boxing again. Being banned from sports is a signal to ordinary Russians that the world is saying that an attack on another country is not OK.