Anders Blomquist on FIS barring Russians from the 2026 Olympics: “The only ethically defensible choice”

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced on Tuesday evening that athletes from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to compete at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

SVT expert Anders Blomquist called the decision both correct and necessary. “It’s the only ethically defensible outcome,” he said, adding that Russia is “not even close to qualifying for a sporting community” under present circumstances.

Several ski stars reacted, including Sweden’s Calle Halfvarsson, who reiterated his long‑held position: as long as the war continues, doors should remain closed. “Nothing has changed; the war is still ongoing. Everything that applied since the war broke out should apply now,” he said in a comment to SVT Sport.

The article also notes that Russia intends to appeal the FIS decision. Related coverage on SVT includes athlete reactions and prior reports on Russian skiers and figures such as Veronika Stepanova.