– It’s shocking. I simply cannot understand how anyone could even entertain the idea of awarding them a championship,” Stian Grimseth told NTB.
He is a former Nordic champion in weightlifting and president of the Norwegian Weightlifting Federation.
The decision was taken four months after the international federation decided to lift all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.
In a press release the IWF has announced that India will host the World Championships in 2029, whilst the following year’s championships will take place in Russia’s capital, Moscow.
“All the bids were excellent, and we are confident that the championships in the respective countries will be a great success,” says IWF Secretary General José Quiñones.
War of invasionAthletes from Russia and Belarus were banned from international competitions when Russia, with the support of Belarus, invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
As early as May the following year, Russian and Belarusian weightlifters were allowed to compete internationally under a neutral flag. Since then, several restrictions have been eased, before all restrictions were lifted in June this year.
“There has, of course, been discussion about whether Russia should be allowed to take part in competitions or not, but this has been based on the IOC’s (International Olympic Committee) guidelines,” says Grimseth, continuing:
– As a federation, we have, of course, adhered to those guidelines. But the fact that championships are now being awarded to Russia, a country in the midst of a war of aggression… one can of course hope that things will change, but that is the situation as it stands today.
– A poor choiceGrimseth is on his way to Ningbo in China, where this year’s World Championships are to be held from next Tuesday. The IWF Congress is to be held there, and he intends to speak his mind about the awarding of the event to Russia.
– I will certainly make it clear that I think it was a poor choice. It’s bound to be a topic of discussion at the congress,” he says.
Incidentally, Norway will have to compete in the World Championships in China without Olympic and world champion Solfrid Koanda. She had to withdraw from the championships due to a back injury.
Last year, the World Championships in weightlifting were held in Førde in Sunnfjord. (NTB)
Jonas Gahr Støre defended his telephone conversation with Putin on the programme ‘Politisk kvarter’. Støre is, in principle, in favour of talking to Moscow. Of course, one cannot guarantee the outcome in advance. The telephone call took place with Zelenskyy’s consent, but Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen accused Støre and Stubb of failing to coordinate with allies.
Støre rejected that accusation in the NRK studio: “Mette Frederiksen is opposed to any contact with Moscow,” said Støre.
So too are members of the Storting and the Norwegian sports community. Now they are coming forward in droves and calling on the government to refuse visas to Russian athletes for this winter’s World Cup events.
Oslo’s mayor, Anne Lindboe (H), spoke out and called on the government to block the Russians. She is now being joined by the Liberal Party and the Green Party.
On Tuesday, both the Liberal Party and the Green Party submitted questions to Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Labour) regarding the situation with Russia.
“Will the government ensure that Russian and Belarusian athletes who wish to take part in international competitions are not allowed to compete in Norway?”, writes MDG politician Siren Jensen. She sits on the Family and Culture Committee.
– It is a disgrace that several international sports federations are allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in international competitions, whilst Ukraine remains under invasion, with more and more civilians being killed by Russian air strikes every day. Russia has lobbied hard to return to the international stage, and corrupt federations are allowing themselves to be persuaded. Norway should not do the same, Jensen told NTB.
– Now that I am calling on the Minister to deny these athletes the right to compete in Norway, the government must decide whether it will take the right side on this issue. So far, there has been a deafening silence, which is completely unacceptable and sends the wrong signals. Anything other than a crystal-clear ‘no’ to such athletes competing in Norway is not good enough.
For her part, Liberal Party leader Guri Melby is asking the Minister of Justice to clarify whether the government will investigate whether Norway has a legal basis for refusing visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes for the World Cup races in Norway this winter.
– It is important that Norway, as a major sporting nation, does not allow itself to be used for Russian propaganda. Whilst Russia continues to attack Ukraine as before, it is actively using sport as a political tool to generate enthusiasm for Russia both at home and internationally. I want none of that on Norwegian ski trails,” Melby told NTB.
The Ski Association president is on the same side.
The backdrop to this move is, amongst other things, that Ski Association president Roger Finjord recently asked the government for exactly the same thing. At the same time, the Swedish authorities have announced that they are in the process of carrying out such a review.
The Swedish Ski Federation has made it clear that it does not want Russian competitors on the start line at this winter’s Nordic World Championships in Falun.
– I believe that skiing competitions in Norway should be held without Russian participants, and I see no reason why they should be granted visas. I have therefore asked the government to assess whether there is a legal basis for refusing visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes for the World Cup races taking place in Norway this winter. This clarification should come as soon as possible, says Melby.
The government says it is working on the matter. However, Støre has now initiated peace diplomacy with Moscow, and it may seem inappropriate to slam the door shut on the Russians when the international trend is towards opening up.
Norway is among the most uncompromising towards Russia in the field of sport. It will, of course, be noticed if the government now excludes the Russians at a time when the international community is seeking to welcome them back.
The Red Party goes the furthest, linking a boycott of Russia to a boycott of Israel.
The Red Party’s spokesperson on sports policy, Remi Sølvberg, is, like the MDG and the Liberal Party, clear that the government must put its foot down regarding Russian participation on Norwegian soil.
“Norwegian sports facilities should not be a playground for nations that violate international law, be it Russia or Israel. FIS chickened out in the face of Russia, and Israel has been allowed to participate in the international sporting arena despite the ongoing genocide against the Palestinians,” he tells NTB – and continues:
“Norway should, in solidarity with those who are bearing the brunt of Russia’s and Israel’s bloody imperialism, make it clear that these states must not be allowed to use Norwegian sporting events to whitewash their actions, and that their professional athletes are unwelcome here.
Even the Christian People’s Party is moving towards a boycott.
Jonas Andersen Sayed, foreign policy spokesperson for the Christian People’s Party, also supports Lindboe’s call for visa refusals.
– We take note of the FIS’s decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag, but I believe it is unwise. The arguments for excluding Russian athletes following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine remain just as strong. Despite the fact that the athletes would be competing under a neutral flag, we know that the Russian authorities make significant political use of the achievements of Russian athletes, he says.
Norway has adopted a stance that is on the fringes of the international consensus regarding Russian participation in sport. The more one moves towards openness and integration, the more visible Norway’s hard line becomes.
It was recently announced that Russia will host the World Weightlifting Championships in 2030. This caused the president of the Norwegian federation to see red.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has decided to award the World Championships to Russia in four years’ time. This has sparked a reaction.
However, Norway has no reservations about competing in China, which brutally oppresses the Uyghurs and supports Russia in the war in Ukraine.
