Russian attack Demands for Russia boycotts increase in sport: Norway doesn’t want Russians to go to ski race, Poland refuses to qualify for World Cup

Sport|The Russian attack

Saturday more and more sports players have reported different boycott demands on Russian athletes and national teams since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday.

Norwegian the ski association said on saturday it does not want russian athletes to participate in the upcoming world ski championships and world championships in norway.

In the coming weeks, Norway is expected to compete in the cross-country skiing, hill jumping and combined world cups in Drammen and Holmenkollen, as well as the World Cup in Vikersund.

Norway is currently hosting the World Cross Country Skiing Championships in Lygna.

“The Norwegian Ski Association’s government has today discussed the situation surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how this will affect future World Cup and World Championships in Norway. The Norwegian Ski Association’s message to Russia and Russian athletes is crystal clear: We do not want their participation,”

Norwegian Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen gave its support to the union.

“It is important that sports federations are autonomous. At the same time, I support the statement made by the Norwegian Ski Association today, ”Trettebergstuen told NTB.

Also neighboring Swedish Minister for Sport Anders Ygeman wants to exclude Russian athletes from all major sports competitions.

Ygeman told the news agency TT that he had discussed the matter with his Nordic colleagues and was seeking support from the European Union for a boycott of Russia.

“It simply came to our notice then [Vladimir] Putin eye blades. As long as Russian aggression continues, I want the EU to make a decision not to participate in Russian sporting events and to ban Russian professionals from participating in other countries, ”Ygeman said.

“Sport is one of Putin’s cornerstones, and he has also tried to use sport for his leadership. Then it’s only natural that we use sport in the anti-Putin manifesto.”

Polish the football association says its men’s A national team is refusing to play in the World Cup qualifier against Russia. The reason for the refusal is Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukraine.

Russia is scheduled to host Poland on March 24, with Moscow designated as the venue for the match.

“The time for speeches is over. It is time to act. The Polish team does not intend to play the playoffs due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine,” the chairman of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesza said in a statement.

Kulesza said that the Polish Football Association is working with the Swedish and Czech federations to present their common position to the International Football Association Fifa.

If Russia wins Poland in a scheduled match, it will have to host the winner of the Sweden-Czech match on March 29 in a decisive qualifying match.

As early as Thursday, the federations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic demanded that Fifa move the playoffs out of Russia.

Polish the biggest star player and captain of the national team Robert Lewandowski expressed his views against the war on Twitter on Friday. Lewandowski said he was discussing the match with Russia with his teammates.

“All the things that make sport beautiful are contrary to what war brings to the world. This is a time of solidarity for all people who value freedom and peace on behalf of the victims of the military attack in Ukraine,” Lewandowski said.