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Finland to tighten restrictions on Russian athletes after Moscow’s expected return to world ice hockey
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
Finland is drawing up rules to restrict Russian athletes’ entry, following a sports court ruling that Russia must be allowed back into international ice hockey tournaments. The move matters because several countries have threatened boycotts, and Ukraine has urged governments to bar Russian athletes from entering so Moscow cannot use international sport to improve its image.
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the changes were being prepared on a tight schedule after a meeting of the government and President Alexander Stubb. Finland already stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but its rules still allow entry for sports contests. The EU is also considering measures: its foreign policy chief has said new options will be examined, and an official told the Kyiv Independent that a 22nd sanctions package could be proposed as soon as 11 November, with athlete restrictions at its centre.
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In short
- Finland is preparing new entry limits for Russian athletes.
- Current rules still allow Russian athletes to enter for competitions.
- EU-wide restrictions may feature in a forthcoming sanctions package.
How this story developed
- 12 minutes ago After a sports court ruled Russia must return to international ice hockey tournaments, Finland said it was accelerating the entry-rule changes amid boycott threats and criticism.
- 21 minutes ago Finland began drafting rules to end its exemption allowing Russian athletes to enter for sporting events, while an EU sanctions package was under discussion.
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The case for
Finland can argue that sporting access is a privilege that should not be treated as separate from Russia’s war against Ukraine. Tightening the exemption would align entry rules with the country’s existing restrictions, avoid lending legitimacy to Russian participation, and signal solidarity with Ukraine while broader European measures are considered.
The case against
Critics can argue that restricting athletes’ entry risks turning sport into a tool of collective punishment, limiting individuals who may not control or support their government’s actions. They may also contend that international sport should follow the ruling of its governing court and remain a channel for competition across political divides, with any safeguards focused on specific conduct rather than nationality.
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Originally published by Kyiv Independent as “Finland to tighten restrictions on Russian athletes after Moscow’s expected return to world ice hockey”.