The key facts
- The Swedish Ski Federation is trying to secure visa denials for Russians for the 2027 World Championships in Falun (February 24 — March 7, 2027)
- The FIS allowed Russians to compete in a neutral status; according to SVT, 13 skiers have received the status
- Migration Minister Johan Forssell confirmed that the government is examining legal options for restricting entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes
The Swedish federation seeks to bar Russians
The Swedish Ski Federation intends to secure a refusal to issue visas to Russian athletes in order to keep them out of the 2027 World Championships in Falun. This was reported by the TV channel SVT. The organization has turned to the National Sports Federation for support and is trying to influence the position of the country's government.
The reason — an FIS decision
The reason was a decision by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) allowing Russian skiers to take part in international competitions in a neutral status. The Swedish side spoke out against their return but acknowledged that it is obliged to comply with international rules. “Since such a decision has been made, we must comply with it. However, this is not something we like,” said the federation's secretary general Pernilla Bunde.
Examining visa options
According to Bunde, the issue has been raised at the national level, and the federation is considering approaching the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It is proposed to examine the current restrictions on the entry of foreigners and to find out whether visa procedures can be used to bar Russian participants. The Swedish federation has discussed a similar initiative with colleagues from other Scandinavian countries that host international skiing competitions. No final decision on denying visas to Russians has been made yet.
The government's position and details
Sweden's Migration Minister Johan Forssell confirmed to SVT that the government is examining legal options for restricting the entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes. According to the TV channel, 13 Russian skiers have already received FIS neutral status. The World Championships in skiing events will be held in Falun from February 24 to March 7, 2027. Under the current FIS rules, Russians may compete in individual disciplines without national symbols, provided the neutral status requirements are met. Earlier, Life.ru reported that the FIS allocated Russian skiers 24 quota spots for the World Cup of the 2026/27 season — they are allowed to compete only without a flag and anthem. It was also reported that Norway spoke out against admitting skiers from Russia even under a neutral status.
