The mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, called for a ban on the participation of Russian athletes in the World Cup winter sports trials in Holmenkollen this season.
This request comes after the International Ski Federation (FIS) relaxed its rules, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.
Holmenkollen hosts the World Cup biathlon, ski jumping, cross-country and combined Nordic skiing events.
“Ukrainians fight every day for their country, for their freedom and for their right to determine their own future,” said the mayor of the capital of Norway.
“Oslo is hosting the World Cup, and while Russia continues its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, Russian athletes must not be at the starting line in Holmenkollen,” Lindboe said in a press conference, according to the VG daily, taken over by dpa and Agerpres.
“Just because the FIS opens the door to Russian athletes does not mean that the government must do the same,” added the mayor.
Norway also hosts winter sports World Cup events in Trondheim, Kvitfjell, Drammen, Lillehammer and Vikersund.
