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Norway to ban Belarusian athletes from competing on its territory
November 13, Pozirk. The Norwegian government intends to ban Belarusian and Russian professional athletes, as well as their support staff, from entering the country to participate in competitions, it said yesterday.
Oslo’s announcement coincided with reports that the European Union’s 22nd package of sanctions over Russia’s war against Ukraine may include a ban on Belarusian and Russian athletes competing in international competitions in the EU.
Although Norway maintains strict entry restrictions on Russian and Belarusian nationals, eased rules by international sports federations mean that more athletes and accompanying personnel from the two countries may enter Norway, the Norwegian government noted.
The Norwegian justice ministry will authorize migration and police authorities to expel Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and accompanying support staff who enter Norway to compete in sports events, with the new rules expected to take effect shortly, it added.
Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen said the move would further tighten Norway’s entry restrictions.
The Norwegian Sports Federation has been against Russian and Belarusian participation in international sports since the launch of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine with the assistance of Belarusian authorities in early 2022.
As Russia continues its brutal war of aggression, Oslo does not want Russian and Belarusian professional athletes and support staff to come to Norway to participate in international sports competitions, Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery stressed.
When Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine with the help of authorities in Minsk in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all competitions. In March 2023, it recommended that some of them could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war. In May 2026, the Committee said that it no longer recommended any restrictions.
Many sports bodies have since lifted their restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus.
International Ice Hockey Federation bars Belarusian U20, senior men’s teams from 2027 world championships
November 7, Pozirk. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Council has decided that Belarusian U20 and senior men’s national teams will not participate in the IIHF World Junior Championship 2027 and the IIHF World Championship 2027. In a statement, the …
