Russian headache: – Something must be going on

BEITOSTØLEN / VAL MÜSTAIR (Dagbladet): One of the big questions that the International Ski Federation (FIS) has to decide on in the future is what happens to Russian and Belarusian athletes, which is banned from the World Cup until further notice.

Much of the world has banned them for the war in Ukraine, while the FIS’s official reason is for the safety of the athletes. So that of Russian athletes.

It was the FIS Council that made the decision in March, extending it after strong signals from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the autumn.

There were still many in skiing who would like to separate sport and politics, and have the Russians at the starting line.

– Sad

Vegard Ulvang headed the FIS cross-country committee when the decision was made in the Council, the highest body of the FIS.

They had no vote in the decision, but Ulvang says there were many in skiing who would like to distinguish between sport and politics, and have the Russians on the starting line.

– As a rule, we live in our own little sports bubble and suddenly you are challenged to think about whether we should continue playing when there is war. So we land differently. Our possessions and perceptions reflect where you come from and our background. We have to respect it. I respect the fact that several people in my committee were very supportive of participation and that Scandinavia was definitely on the other side, Ulvang tells Dagbladet.

– When do you think the Russians can come back?

– I have no idea. Something has to happen, either with the regime or with the war. If the topic is safety, then it’s as dangerous now as in Holmenkollen, says Ulvang, and thinks of the World Cup in March, when the Russians had to leave before the race started.

Russia has also suffered from vandalismand the athletes said they felt threatened afterwards.

– Nothing has changed. I really hope that the world normalizes, that we get the Russians back on track and that we can talk to each other as people again. What is happening now is just sad. It seems today’s FIS council looks to the IOC, and then you follow them. There seems to be some movement, but I fear it could take a long time, Ulvang says.

– Not addicted

The 59-year-old, who has a very good view of the cross-country skiing world, points out that cross-country skiing does not depend on Russia or other countries, as long as the interest in skiing and competing is there. However, Ulvang stresses that Russia is a great power, including economically.

– If we get big and strong economic countries like Germany, the economy will grow. If we get Russia, which is a great power, the economy will grow. It’s not a disaster if Russia is not involved, but at the same time cross-country skiing can only be done where there is winter and snow, mostly. There are not many countries.

The man who won three Olympic gold medals at the 1992 Olympics continues:

– Russia is the largest winter country in the world. It’s winter all the way to Vladivostok. They have more skiers than us. They are the largest skin nation, so it is clear that they must be included. I had big wet dreams about Russia. It’s a very large country with a large economy and with cross-country skiing as a popular sport, we have a financial market outside of Scandinavia. But today, unfortunately, the climate is much colder than during the Cold War.