Sweden explores visa curbs on Russian, Belarusian athletes瑞典考虑对俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员实施签证限制
Oct 21 (Reuters) - Sweden is examining whether it can refuse visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes seeking to compete in international sporting events on its soil, the country's migration minister told Reuters on Wednesday, potentially blocking competitors cleared to take part by their governing bodies.
FILE PHOTO: Nordic Skiing - FIS Nordic World Ski Championships - Cross-Country - Trondheim, Norway - March 2, 2025 General view at the start of the Women's Skiathlon 10.0km Classic + 10.0km Free Terje Pedersen/NTB via REUTERS/File Photo
Oct 21 (Reuters) - Sweden is examining whether it can refuse visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes seeking to compete in international sporting events on its soil, the country's migration minister told Reuters on Wednesday, potentially blocking competitors cleared to take part by their governing bodies.
The move could prevent athletes granted neutral status from taking part in next year’s Nordic World Ski Championships in the Swedish city of Falun. The biennial championships, featuring cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined, are scheduled for February and March.
"We are currently analysing the legal grounds on which visas for Russian and Belarusian athletes could be refused," Migration Minister JohanForssell said in a statement to Reuters.
"The Swedish government is strongly critical of Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to participate in international competitions,"he added.
Forssell said the government supported the position of the Swedish Ski Association and the Swedish Sports Confederation that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to compete in Sweden.
"There is an obvious risk that this could lead to the normalization of Russia's aggression against Ukraine," he said.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has granted neutral status to several Russian athletes, making them eligible to compete in its events. FIS did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Russian and Belarusian athletes have faced widespread restrictions in international sport since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Belarus serving as a staging ground for Russian forces.
Russia has previously challenged international sports bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, arguing that decisions to exclude its competitors are unlawful and discriminatory. Reuters has contacted the Russian and Belarusian Olympic committees for comment on the possibility of visa restrictions.
STRONG SWEDISH SUPPORT FOR BAN
Sweden's main sporting bodies back efforts to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in the country, while stressing that visa and entry decisions rest with the government.
"The Swedish Sports Confederation is in dialogue with the government regarding the regulations for Russian citizens obtaining visas to Sweden," it told Reuters.
The Swedish Ski Association said it had maintained the same position since Russia's invasion of Ukraine: athletes from Russia and Belarus should remain excluded from international competition for as long as the war continues.
Secretary General Pernilla Bonde said the association had raised the visa issue with the Swedish Sports Confederation, but stressed that entry decisions rested with the authorities.
"Decisions regarding visas and entry into Sweden are made by the relevant authorities, not by us," Bondesaid, addingthe association would comply with any decisions and regulations made by FIS.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in GdanskEditing by Toby Davis)
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资料照片：北欧滑雪 - 国际雪联北欧世界滑雪锦标赛 - 越野滑雪 - 挪威特隆赫姆 - 2025年3月2日 女子越野滑雪两项赛10.0公里传统式+10.0公里自由式比赛起点全景 Terje Pedersen/NTB via REUTERS/资料照片
10月21日（路透社）——瑞典移民部长周三告诉路透社，瑞典正在研究是否可以拒绝向希望在瑞典参加国际体育赛事的俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员发放签证，这可能会阻止那些已获得各自管理机构批准参赛的运动员。
此举可能导致获得中立身份的运动员无法参加明年在瑞典法伦举行的北欧世界滑雪锦标赛。这项两年一度的锦标赛包括越野滑雪、跳台滑雪和北欧两项，计划于2月和3月举行。
“我们目前正在分析拒绝向俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员发放签证的法律依据，”移民部长约翰·福塞尔在给路透社的一份声明中说。
“瑞典政府强烈批评允许俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员参加国际比赛，”他补充道。
福塞尔表示，政府支持瑞典滑雪协会和瑞典体育联合会的立场，即不应该允许俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员在瑞典参加比赛。
他说：“这显然有可能导致俄罗斯对乌克兰的侵略行为正常化。”
国际滑雪和单板滑雪联合会（FIS）已授予几名俄罗斯运动员中立身份，使他们有资格参加其赛事。FIS尚未回复路透社的置评请求。
自 2022 年 2 月俄罗斯全面入侵乌克兰以来，俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员在国际体育赛事中面临广泛的限制，而白俄罗斯则成为俄罗斯军队的集结地。
俄罗斯此前曾就国际体育禁赛令向国际体育仲裁法庭提起诉讼，认为禁止其参赛选手参赛的决定非法且具有歧视性。路透社已联系俄罗斯和白俄罗斯奥委会，就签证限制的可能性寻求置评。
瑞典强烈支持禁令
瑞典主要体育机构支持阻止俄罗斯和白俄罗斯运动员在该国参赛的努力，同时强调签证和入境决定权在于政府。
“瑞典体育联合会正在与政府就俄罗斯公民获得瑞典签证的规定进行对话，”该联合会告诉路透社。
瑞典滑雪协会表示，自俄罗斯入侵乌克兰以来，该协会一直坚持同样的立场：只要战争继续，来自俄罗斯和白俄罗斯的运动员就应该被排除在国际比赛之外。
秘书长佩妮拉·邦德表示，该协会已向瑞典体育联合会提出了签证问题，但强调入境决定权在于当局。
邦德表示：“有关签证和入境瑞典的决定是由相关部门做出的，而不是由我们做出的。”他还补充说，该协会将遵守FIS做出的任何决定和规定。
（汤米·伦德在格但斯克报道，托比·戴维斯编辑）
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