Norway has refused to host swimming competitions due to the inclusion of athletes from Russia
The Norwegian Swimming Federation refuses to host international competitions as long as World Aquatics allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate.
Reuters reports this.
The organization’s president, Kato Bratbak, stated that Norway will not host championships as long as athletes from the aggressor country have full access, the right to participate, and the right to use their flags and anthems.
As of April 14, Russian and Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete in their own uniforms and had their full membership rights in World Aquatics restored. Norway is currently seeking a regional boycott of the competitions and is preparing a joint position with the Scandinavian countries for a meeting next week. Poland previously expressed a similar position.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus were suspended from competitions following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. World Aquatics has stated its intention to ensure conditions so that athletes from all countries can compete in a “peaceful atmosphere.” The Norwegian federation opposes the participation of both adult athletes and juniors from these countries.
World Aquatics, the international sports federation that unites national federations of aquatic sports—swimming (including open-water swimming), diving (including high diving), synchronized swimming, and water polo—has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international tournaments under a neutral status starting January 1, 2026.
The Ukrainian water polo team received a technical defeat in the match for seventh place at the World Cup in Division II due to its official refusal to take the field against the Russian team.
