Helsinki announced Thursday that it will refuse entry to Russian athletes starting mid-November, citing national security reasons.
The Finnish government has decided to close its borders to Russian athletes. This measure will take effect on November 16, announced Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen at a press conference on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
According to Helsinki, the presence of Russian athletes on Finnish soil constitutes a threat. This ban is not limited to athletes directly representing Russia: athletes competing under a neutral flag will also be targeted by this restrictive measure. Finland thus becomes the first European country to take such a decision.
This announcement comes amid a context of persistent geopolitical tensions. By the end of the month, Finland is set to host several major sporting events. The second leg of the Alpine Ski World Cup and the first leg of the Biathlon World Cup are notably scheduled on Finnish territory.
Finnish authorities have not specified the exact criteria used to assess the alleged threat. This decision could have repercussions on the participation of Russian athletes in these international competitions, as many athletes await clarification regarding their status.
This measure is part of a series of restrictions progressively imposed by European countries since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, is thus adopting a particularly strict position regarding sports-related migration policy.
According to Helsinki, the presence of Russian athletes on Finnish soil constitutes a threat. This ban is not limited to athletes directly representing Russia: athletes competing under a neutral flag will also be targeted by this restrictive measure. Finland thus becomes the first European country to take such a decision.
This announcement comes amid a context of persistent geopolitical tensions. By the end of the month, Finland is set to host several major sporting events. The second leg of the Alpine Ski World Cup and the first leg of the Biathlon World Cup are notably scheduled on Finnish territory.
Finnish authorities have not specified the exact criteria used to assess the alleged threat. This decision could have repercussions on the participation of Russian athletes in these international competitions, as many athletes await clarification regarding their status.
This measure is part of a series of restrictions progressively imposed by European countries since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, is thus adopting a particularly strict position regarding sports-related migration policy.
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Source: Ouest-France