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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡
The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council made no decision at its meeting in Zurich (SUI) on Wednesday concerning the participation of Russian and/or Belarusian athletes for the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina (ITA) in 2026.
According to a report from Norwegian state broadcaster NRK, “nothing was decided during Wednesday’s board meeting.”
Norwegian skiing federation chief Tove Moe Dyrhaug said, “It was discussed. There are of course different views, but there is no doubt about what I and Norway stand for.
“There are no sharp disagreements, but there are slightly different views, depending on where you come from, how involved you are and whether you are an organizer. It was a long discussion.”
The decision is now expected to be made at a meeting on 21 October. FIS banned Russian and Belarusian skiers in February 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Other federations in biathlon, bobsled & skeleton, curling, ice hockey and luge have banned them; the International Skating Union has allowed very limited entries as “neutrals,” as has the federation for ski mountaineering.
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Nevertheless, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russia is returning to the international sports world, a step at a time. In an interview with RBC radio:
“We have to negotiate, we have to defend our position. We must maintain our presence at major international competitions, and now our sports authorities are successfully continuing this dialogue. Little by little, our interests will be taken into account.
“It is very good that our sports authorities maintain dialogue with the [International Olympic Committee]. Yes, we do not agree with the IOC’s position, but we still believe that the politicized attitude towards us continues, the double standards are clear, but this does not mean that we should sulk, turn away and say that we won’t talk with them at all.”
As to whether Russian athletes should compete as “neutrals” as required by the IOC and nearly all of the International Federations:
“I believe it [the choice] is with athletes, and I believe that athletes should be encouraged in every possible way to maintain training schedules for the major international competitions and participate in them, in their best interests and those of the country.
“If [‘neutral’ figure skater] Adeliia Petrosian stands on the podium, she will still be ours.”
Russian “neutrals” are competing in the World Rowing Championships now underway in China and seven (out of 16 entries) have been cleared to compete in the weightlifting worlds next month.
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