The key facts

  • Sergei Volkov said he is already in Finland and faced no problems upon entry
  • The FIS tournament in Muonio with Russian skiers will take place on November 13–15
  • Finland plans to approve amendments tightening visa rules on November 12

The skier is already in Finland

Russian skier Sergei Volkov said he had entered Finland without any complications. “I am already in Finland, there are no problems at all,” Sport24 quotes him as saying (he is also reported on by Gazeta.Ru). The statement came against the backdrop of the Finnish authorities' announced intention to restrict the entry of Russian athletes.

The tournament in Muonio and the authorities' plans

On November 13–15, a tournament of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation will be held in Muonio, Finland, with Russian skiers taking part. On November 9, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced his intention to tighten visa rules to prevent Russian athletes from entering the country; according to available information, the State Council will approve amendments to the government's in-principle decision on the entry of Russians at a plenary session on November 12.

Who this will affect next

After November 12, Russian figure skaters are due to enter Finland: three pairs have been entered for the Grand Prix series event in Helsinki (November 20–22) — Aleksandra Boikova / Dmitrii Kozlovskii, Ekaterina Chikmareva / Matvei Ianchenkov, and Anastasiia Mishina / Aleksandr Galliamov — as well as singles skater Evgenii Semenenko. Thus, Volkov's experience shows that entry is currently possible, but the final rules may change before the figure skaters' tournament — it is precisely this State Council session that will be the key indicator. Context: on July 7, the IOC temporarily lifted the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and recommended that federations remove restrictions on Russian athletes; earlier, Olympic champion Denis Spitsov received neutral status.