The Swedish biathlon star has for a long time actively taken a stand against Russians and Belarusians being allowed back into the sports world.
He himself does not have to compete against the Russians and Belarusians who are classified as individual neutral athletes at the Olympics, but remains critical in the days before the Olympic flame is lit at San Siro in Milan.
What kind of signals does that send? It looks bad that we have a country that is waging an offensive war in our vicinity, not far from Italy, and that is then supposed to be there to compete. I think it feels really strange. I think it is bad that the other sports have let them in, it is good that biathlon is standing strong.
he tells TT.
Threatened to boycott
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the Paris Summer Olympics two years ago. The IOC does not allow them to compete as teams, but has otherwise left the decision on whether they should be allowed to the individual federations.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) decided last fall to extend the suspension on Russia and Belarus, but those countries appealed and were successful at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Sprint star Linn Svahn had threatened to boycott the Olympics if the Russians were allowed to participate, but changed her mind when FIS was overruled.
“Not very neutral”
During the Tour de Ski, Russians Savelij Korosteljov and Natalja Neprjaeva raced in neutral team uniforms, but were cheered on by fans with Russian flags.
"When there are Russian flags here, it's not very neutral," exclaimed Edvin Anger.
This is not how it should be at the Olympics, the IOC said shortly thereafter, according to Radiosporten.
Ice hockey has banned teams from Russia and Belarus and has already extended the ban through next season. So even if the IOC had allowed teams from those nations, they would not have been allowed to participate.
Tre Kronor's national team captain Sam Hallam says he is happy that ice hockey has taken an active position, even if it means that Hallam, who is in his final season, will never get to face one of hockey's great nations during his four years in charge.
"I may personally miss that it's a strong hockey nation. But it is important to distinguish, in the reality we live in, that is how it is and the suspension is a consequence of that," he says.
A total of 17 individual neutral athletes have so far received the go-ahead for Olympic participation. In Paris there were 32 such athletes and they won five medals: 1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze.
Goran Sundberg/TT
Lasse Mannheimer/TT
Ingela Ahlberg/TT
Facts: They have received the all-clear for the Olympics
TT
Alpine skiing: Julia Pleshkova, Russia, Simon Yefimov, Russia, Maria Shkanova, Belarus.
Cross-country skiing: Savelij Korosteljov, Russia, Natalja Neprjaeva, Russia, Hanna Karaliova, Belarus.
Figure skating: Petr Gumennik, Russia, Adelia Petrosian, Russia, Viktoria Safonova, Belarus.
Freestyle: Anastasia Andrijianava, Anna Derugo, Hanna Huskova, all Belarus.
Luge: Daria Olesik and Pavel Repilov, Russia.
Short track: Ivan Posashkov and Alena Krylova, Russia.
Ski mountaineering: Nikita Filippov, Russia.
Skating: Ksenia Korzhova, Russia, Anastasia Semjonova, Russia, Marina Zueva, Belarus.
Source: IOC.
Last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to participate in the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina this February.
However, the IOC's policy is to let the respective specialized federations decide the issue.
As during the Summer Olympics in Paris last year, participation by athletes from those countries is conditional.
No Russian or Belarusian teams are allowed to participate, and individual athletes must compete under a neutral flag and meet requirements for neutrality.
The athletes must not have actively supported the war in Ukraine or have any connections to the Russian military. They must also meet certain requirements regarding doping tests.
