Polish Foreign Ministry: Russian ski jumpers will not be allowed entry for Zakopane World Cup

Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ) has issued a clear statement regarding the possible participation of Russian athletes in upcoming FIS Ski Jumping World Cup events in Poland.

After the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision and increasing indications that the International Ski Federation (FIS) is preparing to gradually readmit Russian athletes—potentially starting with the Four Hills Tournament over New Year—the question arose whether Russians could compete in Zakopane, the next World Cup stop.

In a response sent to Polish media, the MSZ cited a regulation updated on 19 September 2022 that restricts entry to Poland for citizens of the Russian Federation. Only narrowly defined categories are eligible to cross the border, and athletes are not among them. Consequently, Russian ski jumpers would not be able to enter Poland to take part in the Zakopane competitions.

The ministry added that, since athletes are not on the list of permitted categories, accepting visa applications would be pointless due to the impossibility of legally crossing the border.

The FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competitions in Zakopane are scheduled for 10–11 January.