Finland prepares a national ban on the entry of Russian athletes

Statement by the Foreign Minister

Finland intends to push for a ban on the entry of Russian athletes into the country without waiting for possible Europe-wide rules, the Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said on Monday Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. In an interview with the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, she said the government will advance this measure at the national level, and details of specific steps will be announced later this week.

Attempts to agree on measures at the EU level

Earlier, Valtonen wrote on X that 'if Russia continues the war, Russian athletes will not be welcome in Finland next year.' According to her, at the October meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council she sent a letter to her EU colleagues calling for restricting Russian athletes' access to the entire Schengen area, and the European Commission is working on this issue.

How the restrictions could be implemented

Valtonen noted that changes to legislation will not be needed — other measures will suffice. Importantly, the restrictions will apply not only to athletes competing for national teams, but also to those who take part in competitions without national symbols: visa legislation, the minister explained, is tied to citizenship, not to the symbols under which a participant competes. Under the current rules, athletes may in certain cases enter Finland on employment grounds if the relevant requirements are met.

Upcoming competitions in question

The practical significance of the decision is underscored by the near-term calendar: according to available information, Russian cross-country skiers are expected in Ruka at the end of November for a Cross-Country World Cup stage, and Russian hockey players are due to arrive in Finland next week for NHL games. The specific steps of the Finnish government have not yet been announced — they promised to report on them within the week.