It was clear after the Norwegian Ski Association on Friday asked the International Ski Association (FIS) to cancel a planned ski race in Russia.

In any case, it would be inappropriate for the NSF to send Norwegian skiers to competitions in Russia.

– Needless to say. You can’t send athletes to a war zone, said NRK commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt on Friday.

It is now clear that Russia will not be allowed to host the upcoming World Cup races in cross-country skiing, jumping and freestyle.

This was stated by FIS in its press release.

– Difficult to understand

A number of athletes were in Lahti, Finland, Friday, as they will compete in the World Cup this weekend.

The cross-country profile believes it’s time for the competition to be moved.

– I don’t want to go there anyway. “I think it’s good for them to make that decision and do it now, because then there’s a slightly higher chance that someone will take over that weekend,” Ane Appelkvist Stenseth told NRK.

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was surprised that the decision had only come now.

– Should have happened a long time ago. First and foremost, it’s time for them to put their finger out and take action. They could have done this earlier, but now at least it’s done and that’s great, because it’s absolutely impossible to cross-country skiing there, says Klæbo.

– What do you think about it taking so long?

– I said quite clearly yesterday that I expected them to make a decision yesterday, but they didn’t. Things take time, but there may be more things around that I can’t control, but I certainly think that we shouldn’t have to wait until at most all the time.

Even Northug says that being a skier is special these days.

– It’s hard to understand as Norwegians the life we ​​have and how well we do. “It’s ugly, and I don’t think it’s fun at all,” said Northug.

He also believed that FIS could speak earlier.

– I don’t know the process and everything, but it goes without saying. Nobody wants to go to a country and compete when that country is at war. “I think they should have said that straight away,” said Northug.

Pål Golberg says that being a skier today feels special.

– I can’t do much to or from. Of course, I strongly condemn what happened there. “I think it’s very sad on behalf of all Ukrainians,” said Golberg.

The European Union and the US have imposed tough sanctions on Russia in the past 24 hours. However, it is unclear whether there will be sanctions from the sport.

– There’s a bigger discussion. It hasn’t been covered so far, but we should make time for it. The most important thing is to ensure that there will be no World Cup races in Russia, Norwegian Ski Association president Erik Rste told NRK.

Russia is scheduled to host a cross-country World Cup final, two rounds of the women’s jump World Cup and two freestyle World Cup races in the coming weeks. Nothing will come of it.

Promises help for Ukrainian athletes

Due to the situation in Ukraine, the race was canceled or moved to a new venue.

Several Ukrainian cross-country skiers are currently in Norway, as they are currently competing at WC U23 in Lynga.

The Ski Association pledged to help athletes with funding and support.

– We will ensure that they have safety and peace of mind, both during the championship in Hadeland and in the weeks to come, Røste told NTB.

Several athletes have expressed concern about the situation in their home countries following the Russian invasion. This creates uncertainty regarding the return journey.

– There are athletes who find themselves in very difficult and vulnerable situations. They didn’t even know if they would make it home. Then we will take care of them in Norway and make sure that they can live safely and taken care of. The ski family stands up, says Røste.

Bolshunov promoted

Saltvedt believes that the invasion should also go beyond Russian athletes. Among those who may be affected is one of the big profile Olympics, Aleksandr Bolsjunov.

– The first thing that happened when he (Bolshunov) won gold in three thousand at the Olympics was that he was promoted to the national guard, which was Putin’s own army. This is a clear signal. That type of symbolism should somehow do everything possible to reduce its impact, and then someone should discuss whether to make such a decision, Saltvedt said, referring to the discussion of whether or not Russia should be allowed to go to Holmenkollen.

– Should the FIS also refuse Russian athletes to compete internationally?

– I think they should at least discuss it. The Russian star is an important symbol for a regime that attacks a neighboring country that is also a member of the FIS.

He stressed that this was not the fault of the Russian athletes.

– You have to treat athletes with respect, even if Russia is a regime you don’t respect.

– That’s out of the question

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is already being felt in sport.

Only 13 Russian athletes took part in Friday’s qualifiers for the weekend’s two World Cup races at the ski cross at Solechnaya Dolina in Russia.

There are 61 athletes registered for men and 24 for women, but all 73 foreigners have withdrawn after the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Røste told NRK that he had been working since yesterday morning on how to handle the Russian situation.

– Then my focus is that we cannot regulate competition in a country that is at war and causes as much suffering as Russia is doing now. That has become the most important focus. It was impossible for Norwegian athletes to compete in Russia, but now it is no longer a problem, Røste said.

He went on to say that compensation was in the works, but that it would take time.