Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Politics — 2026-09-25
FIS has further softened the neutrality criteria for Russian and Belarusian athletes, opening the way for a World Cup return as early as Ruka in late November — while Norway secures the right to deny them entry. Meanwhile the IBU has confirmed biathlon's opposite course, keeping Russia and Belarus suspended for 2026/27, and Östersund beat Kontiolahti for the 2031 World Championships.
Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Politics — 2026-09-25
Top developments
FIS loosens neutral-athlete criteria — Russian stars could race in Ruka
On Tuesday this week FIS published new guidelines significantly easing the criteria for neutral status, making it easier for athletes like Aleksandr Bolsjunov to compete in the 2026/27 World Cup. Finnish media report the expectation is that Russian athletes will indeed come to the World Cup opener in Ruka: "The assumption is that they are coming to Ruka". Finland's Yle notes Norwegian commentators were stunned by the softening, calling it "incomprehensible".
Norway wins the right to refuse entry — and Trondheim looms in December
Days after FIS softened the criteria, a follow-up decision gave Norway the right to deny entry to Russian skiers despite the Federation's reopening ("Boikott av russisk langrenn — FIS snur"). Dagbladet reports Russian athletes could still be on the start line at the December World Cup in Trondheim, with Russian celebrations contrasted by continued skepticism from the Norwegian sports presidency. Norwegian ski president and Russian media alike are unhappy: a Russian commentator feels Norway is being treated differently, calling it "latterlig" (laughable).
IBU holds the line: Russia and Belarus stay suspended for 2026/27
While FIS reopens, biathlon goes the other way: the IBU Congress decided the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes continues through the 2026/27 season. Their IBU membership remains suspended, closing the door on a return for at least another season. The contrast between FIS and IBU creates an unprecedented governance split within Nordic skiing heading into the winter.
Östersund beats Kontiolahti for 2031 biathlon Worlds
Last Friday, IBU member federations awarded the 2031 Biathlon World Championships to Östersund (Sweden), ahead of Kontiolahti, Finland's candidate. The Finnish Federation called the result "naturally disappointing".
Norwegian TV picture set: TV 2 takes Falun ski Worlds, NRK gets alpine
TV 2 has secured rights to eight FIS World Championships and will broadcast the ski World Championships in Falun this winter, while NRK will show the 2027 alpine Worlds and the 2029 home worlds in Narvik. The split shapes how Norwegian audiences follow the Falun Worlds — potentially including any returning neutral athletes.
Local view
- Norway (Dagbladet): A Russian national team coach warns that any World Cup appearance would create "a hateful atmosphere" and says Bolsjunov must first leave Russia's military sports club to qualify as neutral.
- Finland (Helsingin Sanomat / Ilta-Sanomat / Yle): Coverage centres on the practical question of whether Finland will grant visas to Russian skiers for the Ruka World Cup opener under the loosened FIS criteria, with Yle noting Norwegian astonishment at the rule change.
- Sweden: Sweden's earlier exclusion from the closed-door FIS decision on Russia continues to draw criticism, with Johan Olsson calling it "extraordinarily strange".
Context & numbers
No reliable fresh figures on prize money or spectator volumes were published in the past 7 days. Background: the biathlon World Cup prize pool for 2025–26 exceeded €8.5 million. Swedish rollerski World Cup competition ended last week with two Swedish podiums.
On the radar
- Will Finland issue visas for Russian athletes for the Ruka World Cup opener — the first practical test of the new FIS criteria.
- Whether Norwegian hosts will actually use their right to refuse entry at the Trondheim World Cup in December.
- Summer national championships as form indicators: Belarusian sprint titles went to Anton Smolski and Kseniia Varabei in Minsk-Raubichi on Wednesday, while the Slovak summer championships in Brezno-Osrblie crowned the Remenova sisters among others.
- Youth development signal: the U15 National Summer Biathlon Challenge in Vassieux-en-Vercors started Friday.
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