Finland moves to restrict entry for Russian athletes before Helsinki NHL games

Finland is set to implement additional entry restrictions for Russian citizens, including professional athletes, according to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. Orpo anticipates these new measures will be enacted swiftly and expressed a willingness to impose a full ban on Russians entering the country. Finnish broadcaster Yle reported that two NHL games are scheduled to take place in Helsinki next week, featuring Russian players.

Additionally, Russian athletes are anticipated to take part in the Finlandia Trophy figure skating competition on November 20-21, and a cross-country skiing World Cup event in Ruka on November 27-29.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport recently reinstated Russia’s national hockey team in international competitions, despite criticism from the International Ice Hockey Federation, which stated it would comply with the decision. Various hockey federations in Northern Europe, including Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Denmark, and Czechia, have pledged to refuse playing against Russia’s national team in international tournaments following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Restrictions on Russian entry were first introduced by Finland in October of that year, including the suspension of tourist visas for Russians. The return of Russian athletes to international sports comes after 20 years, raising concerns that a favorable ruling in Russia’s favor could potentially disqualify them from participating in the upcoming hockey World Championship.

The International Olympic Committee has recommended the reintroduction of Russian athletes to the Olympics. Meduza, the news outlet, employs a journalist to craft this report, utilizing an AI model to translate the original content from Russian, adhering to their strict editorial standards.