Russia allowed to compete in international ice hockey again
The decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to lift the ban on Russian teams participating in international ice hockey championships has triggered widespread protest. Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway have announced their refusal to play against Russia, with the Finnish Ice Hockey Association explaining that it won't compete against Russia as long as the latter's war against Ukraine continues.
Finland no longer a shrinking violet
Helsingin Sanomat welcomes the Finnish Ice Hockey Association's show of resolve:
“Finland has always sought to be, in the words of former President Urho Kekkonen, more of a doctor than a judge on the world stage. In practice, this has meant that whenever moral issues arose in an international context on which a stance would have to be taken, Finland would withdraw to consider which country it should side with and how to do so without anyone noticing. This approach was particularly evident when it came to responding to our neighbour to the east. The Finnish Ice Hockey Association's decision is further proof that times have changed.”
The right stance
Dagens Nyheter welcomes the Swedish Ice Hockey Association's decision:
“With this move, the ice hockey world – unlike so many other sports – can show that it stands behind Ukraine and all the countries that are facing increasingly frequent and increasingly violent so-called Russian hybrid attacks. Those who want to readmit Russia to the sporting world argue that sport and politics must be kept separate. But the decision to compete against war apologists like [hockey megastar Alexander] Ovechkin is just as political as the refusal to do so. It is simply a different – and worse – political stance.”
Decision won't make sport any less political
Merely readmitting Russia will do nothing to depoliticise sport, taz criticises:
“The ice hockey association in Finland, where the sport is something of a national religion, has already announced that it doesn't want to play against Russia. Latvian athletes are prohibited by law from competing against Russian athletes. ... Will the German Foreign Office allow the Russian superstar and self-confessed Putin supporter Alexander Ovechkin into the country? And, if the teams do face each other on the ice, will a German player shake his hand after the match? No, sport will certainly not become any less political as a result of the readmission of teams from Russia.”
Sport and war do not go hand in hand
The ruling undermines the spirit of sport, Novinky.cz protests:
“Allowing a Russian team to participate in the championship gives the impression that it is acceptable to wage a war which Russia hypocritically refers to as a 'special military operation'. For even Moscow refuses to admit that it is waging a war of aggression. Sport does not exist in some ivory tower, far removed from the real world. Athletes don't live outside reality, as Ukrainian athletes know all too well. Russian bombs, drones and missiles kill them just like everyone else, and destroy their sports grounds. If Ukrainian athletes are paying the ultimate price for Russia's aggression, why should we make concessions to Moscow?”
Politics has the final say
It won't happen quite that fast, writes ice hockey expert Klaus Zaugg in Watson:
“In theory, the Russians should now be allowed to take part in the 2027 IIHF World Championship in Germany (13 to 30 May). But they won't be there in 2027. For several reasons. ... First, it's politics, not sport, that has the final say. ... Second, participation in the World Championship is only possible if the host country – in this case, Germany – issues entry visas for the players and support staff. ... There will be considerable political resistance in Germany to issuing these visas. No other European country is as strongly committed to Ukraine as Germany. ... Are the tickets already purchased for Ukraine's matches now supposed to be valid for Russia's matches? Absurd.”