– We strongly condemn his candidacy, and I have no intention of electing him to the council.
Ski Finland President Markku Haapasalmi is clear about what he thinks about Jelena Vlbe’s candidacy for the FIS board.
– With these brutal war crimes and the crackdown we’ve seen, absolutely not, he told Finland Evening news.
Välbe announced last week that he would be running for re-election to the council at the end of May. Haapalsalmi’s voice did not reach Välbe.
– Unbelievably outrageous
He confirmed this, among other things, with a recent statement to the president of skiing Russia.
Välbe recently grabbed attention by saying that “the world will understand them and everything that happens” to the Championat website. So they are Russian.
– It’s clear that Nazism shouldn’t exist on earth as it is now, but now Pandora’s box is open. Some of these people want to go to Europe, and they are not poor refugees at all, but want to show who they really are, says Välbe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly justified war with a desire to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine. This is the rhetoric repeated daily on Russian state channels – and now by Vlbe:
– Very outrageous, said Haapasalmi of the statement.
NRK has been in contact with ski president Erik Rste. He also reacted to Välbe’s statement.
– The Norwegian Ski Association and I are very clear that sport must also react to Russia after the great suffering they have caused in Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I have clearly stated this at FIS, Røste wrote to NRK in a text message.
ANSWER: Ski President Erik Rste.
Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
Will discuss the future of Russian sports
Røste, as he mentioned, came out quite early in condemning Russia and believing that the FIS should take action against Russian sport.
He also supports Haapasalmi’s statement.
– Like my Finnish counterpart, I reacted to Välbe’s statement. How we will relate to Russia and Russian sport in the future, we will discuss ahead of the FIS Congress at the end of May, said the ski president.
Välbe himself will not react to criticism of his candidacy from the ski president of Finland.
TAUS: Jelena Vlbe will not reply to Haapasalmi’s statement.
Photo: VEGARD WIVESTAD GRØTT / BILDBYRÅN NORWAY
– I don’t want to react at all. Let them say what they want. I am not interested in. Will I be re-elected in FIS? No comments, is Välbe’s answer to Russian champion.
FIS informed to Dagbladet Friday that they welcomed the Vlbe for re-election to the FIS board, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Välbe is with Røste, one of 23 nominees vying for 18 seats on the FIS board.
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