TRONDHEIM (Dagbladet): As Dagbladet reported on ThursdaySecretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS), Michel Vion, opened the door for Russia’s participation in skiing from December.

– It will take a few weeks or months. But the idea of ​​​​opening the door to Russia and Belarus is getting closer. “We are not talking about having competitions in Russia, but participation in FIS events and the World Cup,” Vion said at a conference in Planica, where the World Championships in the Nordic disciplines will be held in February.

At the same time, the Secretary-General believes that sport should be independent of politics.

– Don’t want to see Russians in the beginning

Vion’s statement had caused a strong reaction.

One of those who reacted strongly to the statement was national team runner Didrik Tønseth. He understood that the statement provoked a reaction, because there was a war going on.

– It’s a bit against everything that they should be allowed to participate again. On the one hand, I stand behind it… I prefer not to see the Russians in the beginning until there is peace in the world.

This is what Tønseth told Dagbladet, minutes after he had finished the Bråtesten uphill race in Trondheim. There, the 31-year-old raced to the finish line in 17.53, 17 seconds behind his own track record from last year.

Abused in Russia

– Difficult

Another national team runner who was present in Bråtesten, specifically to award medals to the youngest, was Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.

Although the 25-year-old has just had a longer stay at high altitude in the US, he has followed recent statements regarding Russia’s participation next season.

– It is clear that there are many forces at play here and many opinions, and they should of course be allowed to express their opinions. So I think we now have to wait and see what the FIS decides,” Klæbo told Dagbladet.

A decision on Russia’s participation is expected by the end of October. Klæbo said he would prefer to take a stand on the matter once the FIS has made its decision.

– Right now I think it’s hard to take a stand. “I’ve been clear in the past, and I’m still sticking to what I’ve explained from the start, and now the FIS will make the decision, so I’ll deal with it,” said Klæbo.

Delete Russian messages

Means business

Vion’s statement also caused strong reactions among FIS sponsors. Coop which is one of the main sponsors of FIS, threatened on Friday to withdraw if the FIS opens for Russian participation next season.

– We have spoken to FIS and say what we think. “It is absolutely impossible to accept this, and if we are not heard, it means we cannot continue as sponsors,” said Coop communications director Bjørn Takle Friis, in an interview with Newspaper address Friday.

Tønseth believes Coop’s statement shows the seriousness of the matter.

– When the main sponsor comes in and gives that message, it will be very important to be able to organize a ski race. They mean business.

Snort from Norwegian critics

– We might stand together

Tønseth said that the national team had so far not discussed recent statements regarding Russia’s participation, but assumed that it would be discussed eventually.

When asked if he was considering not starting, if Russia were allowed to participate, Sunday’s Bråtesten winner replied:

– It will be difficult to answer. If something like this happened, we would probably stand together about it, and maybe be told from above what to do.