More and more Swedish athletes are threatening a boycott if the FIS allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to the World Cup prematurely.
After a few days ago, the two cross-country skiers Linn Svahn and Maja Dahlqvist publicly spoke out against the return of the Russian and Belarusian athletes and otherwise threatened a boycott, two other stars of the Swedish team have now announced the consequences in this case.
She doesn’t want to go that far, but “it [ein Boykott] is absolutely an option,” Olympic sprint champion Jonna Sundling told Tuesday.SVT“about a possible cancellation of the start. She couldn’t understand why a return of the Russians and Belarusians was even being discussed: “I think the FIS should stick to their point of view. It wouldn’t feel right to compete against those runners.”
“Putin and Russia shouldn’t get this chance”
Sundling’s teammate Jens Burman is firmly convinced that not only the Swedish team would set an example. “If they are now allowed again, some nations will boycott the races. At least I hope that we stand together on this.”
Being at the start with Russian and Belarusian athletes would not feel “good”. “You know that Russia uses sport as propaganda. I don’t think that Putin and Russia should get the chance to advertise themselves,” said the cross-country skier.
Cross-country star annoyed by “arrogant” Russians
The fact that the announced boycott was mocked by Russian cross-country boss Yelena Välbe also annoys Burman, as he told the Norwegian online newspaper “net payments” explained: “It’s a strong piece that they have the courage to be so arrogant.”
At the same time, the 28-year-old pointed out that not all athletes from Russia should be lumped together: “You don’t know how much they know about the war. Maybe they’ll be forced to say these things. We don’t know, so we should be careful when we criticize the athletes. […] But still I don’t think the FIS should allow them to compete this winter.”
Swedish team manager Anders Bystrom agreed with his athletes, saying: “In the end, Russia is a nation at war. It’s a shame that politics and sport go so much together, but that’s the way it is. It’s impossible to just look away. “