Johannes Hosfluth Klæbo (25 years old) has no plans to compete in Russia and is asking the FIS to move quickly. Sweden will not send practitioners to the country.
– What is happening now in Ukraine is frightening, which I must really condemn. Yes, what happened seems unreal, and puts our world in a new and dangerous situation. It’s war – and we’re entering a time of very high stakes in several regions, Johannes Husfluth Klæbo tells VG.
The Russian army invaded Ukraine on Thursday night. Russian forces are already deep in eastern Ukraine in the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, and on Thursday morning launched a large-scale invasion from at least five fronts.
In March, the World Cup race is scheduled to take place in Tyumen, Russia, and the International Skating Union has not yet moved on the races.
This makes Klæbo react.
– Now the FIS must show that it bears responsibility as well as the backbone. It is the transfer of the World Cup final that was planned in Russia. The FIS could have reacted faster and gave Östersund and Sweden the end of the World Cup. I expect the Islamic Salvation Front to work today. Personally, I have no plans to travel to a country that invades another—to compete on skates, says Klæbo.
The Swedish Ski Association will not send any athletes to Russia. This was stated by Karen Matson of the Swedish Ski Association in a press release, according to Aftonbladet.
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Holund to VG: – It would be wrong to arrange cross-country skiing in a country at war
Norwegian ski chief Erik Roste He sent an email to the head of the Islamic Salvation Front, Johan Elias And Secretary General Michel Fillon Thursday morning with the message that a quick decision must be made on the races planned.
Personally, I think it would be completely wrong to host the World Cup in a country that is now causing great destruction and suffering to a European country. This is about something bigger than sports. So sport can’t be neutral, says Rusti.
The FIS wrote in a statement to VG Thursday morning that it is following the conflict closely and that safety for all concerned is a top priority, but no final decision has been made on the gutters of Tyumen 18-20. March.
Sports President Berit Kjol wrote in a press release that sporting events should not be arranged in Russia, and that there will be an ongoing dialogue with the Norwegian authorities.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is totally unacceptable, and it’s actions we steer clear of, says Keul.
The Norwegian Cycling Tour of Norway, which receives several million in state subsidies annually, invited Gazprom-Rusvelo to this year’s edition of the race, but after the Russian invasion, they are now starting to refuse the team’s participation in the race. The team has a Swiss license, but is Russian for all other practical purposes.
Riding manager Roy Hegreberg opens up to withdraw the invitation to the team.
– We are ready to contribute what we can do. If there’s something we see that can help focus on it, we do it, Hegerberg says road.
In the world of football, on Friday UEFA will discuss moving the Champions League final from St Petersburg, and in a joint press release from the football federations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, they asked not to play a qualifier in Russia in March. .
Russia is scheduled to play Poland in Moscow on March 24. Should they win that match, the plan is for them to play the crucial qualifying match in Moscow five days later, against the winner of the match between Sweden and the Czech Republic.
Klæbo and several other Norwegian superstars are racing across the suburbs in Lahti, Finland this weekend. Tonight he, and even Northog and Anne Abelqvist Stinest, are showing the race in Helsinki. Russians Gleb Retyvik and Gulija Stupak are also on the starting line.
– It is strange that you travel to Finland today to compete on skates with skaters from Ukraine, Russia and others. But perhaps competition in sport is more important than ever – precisely because sport is apolitical and harmless. The 25-year-old says it seems totally unrealistic to have to compete on skates now, but we have to do our best.
On Wednesday, before Russia invaded Ukraine, Klæbo’s national team teammate Hans Christer Holund opposed plans to hold competitions in Russia.
Holland added that it would be wrong to arrange cross-country skiing in a country at war VG.
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