Sweden Prepares to Ban Russian Athletes Ahead of 2027 Ski World Championships

The Swedish government is moving to prevent Russian athletes from entering the country for sporting events, aiming to implement this before the Ski World Championships scheduled for February 2027. Social Minister Jakob Forssmed announced that the government will soon make a decision on this new regulation, which will deny entry to Russian athletes regardless of visas issued by other countries.

This measure reflects Sweden's growing security concerns amid an increasing number of hybrid warfare tactics directed at the country and Europe at large. Thomas Nilsson, head of the Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must), has emphasized Russia as the main source of threats, including bomb threats, drone alarms, and cyberattacks. Nilsson highlighted efforts by adversaries to exploit public dissatisfaction and sow distrust within Western societies, as seen in recent events such as severe snowstorms and a major cyberattack affecting around 30 Swedish grocery stores.

The government aims to safeguard Swedish sports events by curbing potential security risks associated with Russian participants. This policy will be part of broader efforts to enhance awareness of vulnerabilities and strengthen national security. According to Forssmed, "The intention is to establish a system that allows denying entry to Russian athletes regardless of whether they have visas from other countries," signaling a firm stance ahead of major international competitions hosted in Sweden.