[1/2] Russian sabre fencer Sofya Velikaya and retired cross-country skier Alexander Legkov react during the presentation of uniforms for Russian athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, in Moscow, Russia December 10, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
April 14 (Reuters) - Norwegian fencers will not participate in events where Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete, Norway's fencing federation said on Friday, extending the list of nations opposing the return of athletes from the two countries.
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) on March 10 cleared fencers from Russia and Belarus to return to international events just before 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers, which resulted in the cancellation of events in Denmark, Germany, and Poland.
In addition, the Norwegian Federation cancelled its annual satellite fencing event in Oslo. Instead, it said it would arrange a competition with Sweden and Finland outside of the FIE World Cup.
"Since the invasion, the association has worked both nationally and with the other Nordic fencing federations for the banning of all Russian and Belarusian sports to show sympathy for Ukraine and the demand for peace," the federation said in a statement.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been banned from most elite international sporting competitions since last March in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a "special military operation".
Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk Editing by Christian Radnedge
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EasternConcentrate6 on April 14th, 2023 at 22:17 UTC »
All sporting events should be boycotted that let war criminals compete.
Good move Norway.
Shoopahn on April 14th, 2023 at 20:52 UTC »
Prior to this decision, they were on the fence.
krugo on April 14th, 2023 at 20:50 UTC »
They might be able to help with the fence in Finland though.