Finland bans Russian athletes ahead of skiing World Cup opener

Nov 12 : Finland will ban Russian athletes — including those competing as neutrals — ahead of this month's cross-country skiing World Cup opener in Ruka, the government said on Thursday.

As of November 16, Russian citizens with Schengen visas will only be allowed into Finland to work in tasks that are deemed essential to the country's national interests, the government said in a statement. That excludes sport, it said.

"As Russia's war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business coming to Finland. Their entry would endanger Finland's international relations," Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

The far northern Finnish resort of Ruka will host the men's and women's 10km classic races, classic sprints and 20km freestyle mass starts from November 27 to 29. The World Cup returns to Finland for races in the city of Lahti from February 12 to 14. Ruka will also host the men's World Cup ski jumping on November 28 and 29.

COUNTRIES DENY VISAS

Poland's foreign ministry told Reuters on Wednesday it would refuse visas to Russian ski jumpers for World Cup events in Wisla in December and Zakopane in January.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals in individual events. Asked about Poland's decision, FIS told Reuters on Wednesday that host countries set their own entry rules and that it "bears no responsibility for denial of visas or entry" to athletes it has cleared.

Reuters has asked FIS whether it has anything to add following Finland's announcement.

Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell told Reuters last month his government was examining whether it could refuse visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes. Sweden hosts the Nordic World Ski