– JI must say I was quite surprised. He represents the athletes’ committee in Norway, which will protect and represent the interests and values ​​of Norway’s top athletes. And then I think now Astrid misses a lot, rower Kjetil Borch told NRK.

The Olympic medalist from Tokyo spoke in a calm voice, but he was clearly irritated when NRK made contact on Thursday night. Some time ago, he read the case that Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen advocated for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be allowed to participate in sports during meetings with the International Committee (IOC).

As chair of the athletes’ committee, Jacobsen represents the interests and views of Borch and all other elite athletes who play sports organized by the sports clubs and specialized associations in the Norwegian Sports Confederation. Now he was greatly provoked.

– If I am on the list of top athletes represented by the athletes’ committee, then they must immediately remove me, because this is beyond my power. “I would encourage Astrid to find out what’s going on in top sport,” Borch continued – and added:

– I sit in the canteen at Olympiatoppen every day, including Sundays throughout the winter, and talk to athletes, coaches, coaches, personnel and athletes from abroad. I don’t recognize myself in any of what the athletes’ committee summarized as overall national support for Russia’s engagement.

Shut up about criticism

The elite athlete considers that there is no basis for drawing conclusions that Norwegian athletes support Russia’s participation. He believes the sports committee made a mistake.

– Does this statement reflect the impression you have of Norwegian sport’s view of Russian participation?

– Absolutely not. On the one hand, it seems easy to be an athlete who stands outside what might be called the political game of sport, and to exhibit such things. But it’s about the fact that I, as an Olympic athlete, was represented by a committee, which I now believe should be realistic, said Borch.

The 32-year-old picked up his hat and headed home if the athletes’ committee could show a survey to prove the majority wanted Russia back, but with no numbers or signatures, he believes the views Jacobsen advocated at the IOC meeting have no roots. in fact.

– Do you trust Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen?

– Unfortunately, I must say that the faith has greatly weakened. Now there’s a new election in the spring, and with that kind of attitude, I don’t know if it will work if he wants a re-election.

Astrid Uhrenholdt would not comment on criticism from Kjetil Borch.

– If Norwegian athletes don’t believe me, they can express it on the right channels. I’m not sitting there to myself. It will take its course in the right channels, Jacobsen told NRK.

Encourage dialogue

When asked what the performance committee had done to garner support for a values-based dialogue message, where there should be no discrimination based on passports, Jacobsen replied that they were in the process.

– No official decision has been made. All athletes are always encouraged to relate. This is a voluntary position and I am not making any money from it. I just want to emphasize that, even though I sound like a pimp.

– Why don’t you talk to the players?

– We have an ongoing dialogue. I’m well aware that there are a lot of opinions out there. My door and phone are always open and available. I’m trying to get as close as possible. I have tried to get involved internationally to keep the values ​​of the sport. Everyone should reach out, also to get the facts, said Jacobsen.

Jacobsen: Human rights violations

He argued that discussions conducted under the auspices of the IOC were based on values ​​and dealt with discrimination.

– Everyone agrees that war is cruel and brutal. I told them what we had discussed in Norway, from the point of view of the values ​​and vision of the Olympics and sport. If sport is to remain neutral and not tolerate discrimination, athletes cannot be banned for Russian passports, said Jacobsen – and continued:

– There are also violations of human rights. What I do is advocate for a discussion.

Jacobsen clarified that the athletes’ committee had not yet made a decision, but was discussing matters from the athlete’s perspective when asked why the statement differed from that of the Norwegian Confederation of Sport. The NIF said their position had not changed.

– We must dare to stand in a process and spend time figuring out which direction to take, which opportunities exist. Finding the answer to 1-2-3 is naïve and requires time and extensive investigation. The whole world wants sport to make political judgments, but we can’t, Jacobsen said excitedly – and added:

– Others use sport for their politics, that’s not an argument to politicize sports especially from within.

Disagree about “passport discrimination”

Borch agrees that it is a good starting point that people should not be judged on the passports they hold and that sport should offer a unifying arena. However, he is very clear why it shouldn’t be implemented now:

– IDretten has a very important social mission globally and must demonstrate good values. And it is precisely against these values ​​to include a state that can in principle be considered a totalitarian regime, which commits terror and violates human rights, said Borch.

Based on statements by Jacobsen and other representatives, the IOC claimed on Wednesday that “the vast majority” of athlete representatives wanted Russia and Belarus to return to international competition.

Swedish biathlon Sebastian Samuelsson’s profile is told NRK that he was the only one who objected. Jacobsen disowned himself in that claim.

Granerud: – Slightly shaking

Halvor hop week winner Egner Granerud said the news came out of nowhere. On the one hand, he wants people with more knowledge to make decisions, but considers it important to show Russia what is right.

– Russia is one of the best sporting countries in the world, so in general many athletes are not allowed to practice their sport at the highest level. Competition in many sports has become lower, Granerud told NRK.

When asked whether it should be against Russia that athletes are actively used in propaganda and that some athletes have received military titles against it, Granerud replied:

– Yes, I think that’s a good argument. And then, at the level of sports policy, you have to judge how heavy it should be. And if you will cut everyone.

– It’s not something I really think about. But it would be very strange if Russian officers had to compete with Ukrainian athletes. It’s kind of jarring to my ears.

Olympic winner in high jump Marija Lasitskene and cross-country star Aleksandr Bolshunov, for example, holds the rank of captain in the Russian armed forces. A number of Russian sports stars have the rank of military officers.

– War and sport don’t go well

Combined runner Espen Bjørnstad believes it is too early to give up on the Russians and Belarusians.

– It’s really surprising that he’s the one who spoke for it. My thinking on that is that as long as the war in Ukraine lasts, Russia must be left behind. They claim that sport and politics are disconnected, but Russia has demonstrated that. Then we just have to keep preventing them, unfortunately, Bjørnstad told NRK.

He believed that Jacobsen should be allowed to have his own opinion on the matter, but was unsure whether a variety of practitioners shared the same opinion. He doesn’t think it applies in the combined camp:

– I think most parties agree with me here that during the war the athletes had to be left out, said Bjørnstad, who was backed by fellow national teammate Simen Tiller.

– Basically, I think it’s a bit wrong when there’s a war. I don’t know what the background is. What sort of restrictions might they have in mind if they were allowed to return here. But fundamentally, war and sport don’t go well together, Tiller told NRK.