Last season, Russian winter athletes began to be allowed back into competition after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eased its restrictions.
Ahead of this season, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has further relaxed its requirements, and Russian athletes are now broadly welcome, as long as they demonstrate neutral status and have not taken a political stance.
“We have taken note of it”
This means that Russian skiers could compete in Falun when the World Championships are held in February next year, putting the championship’s security in focus.
"The fact that Russian skiers are coming here clearly affects our security work. That issue is high on the agenda, and we feel confident in our planning and cooperation with the various actors," says Kajsa Sjösvärd, CEO of the World Ski Championships.
But I would also say that the uncertain global situation affects how we work. We have taken that into account, even though it has meant higher costs for us.
Participated in propaganda
A total of 94 Russian athletes have now been cleared to compete in the World Cup in one of the FIS disciplines. In addition to the 94 athletes, 56 coaches or other support staff have also been given the green light. A total of 13 cross-country skiers are on the list.
But the biggest names have still not been cleared. Olympic gold medallists Aleksandr Bolshunov and Veronica Stepanova are still missing. Both have been involved in propaganda for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kajsa Sjösvärd is used to working on security issues. She worked on the response to the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 and was responsible for the EU coordination team in Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. She was also involved when Falun last hosted the championships, in 2015.
There are an incredible number of people involved now. This is much bigger than in 2015, says Sjösvärd.
For national team skier William Poromaa, it is important to highlight the connection between the Russian skiers and Putin.
That's what we were afraid of in the beginning, that they (FIS) would change their minds. The longer it goes on and the war continues, the more problematic it becomes. Letting them in sends signals of normalization; you're on really slippery ice. It's worrying, he says.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country was excluded from the Olympics and has not been allowed to compete as a nation since. The vast majority of international sports federations have also decided not to allow Russian teams or athletes to participate in major competitions.
Russian athletes, however, have in some cases been allowed to compete as neutral participants. To take part, they have had to show that they do not support Russia's policies or the war, but this summer the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the Olympics starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games, regardless of their political stance.
However, some federations, such as those governing athletics and biathlon, continue to keep the door completely closed to Russians.
In many cases, Belarusian athletes are also affected by the sanctions, as Belarus is on Russia's side in the war.
