Nordic nations join call for Russian Olympic ban

PARIS — The Olympic committees of five Nordic nations on Tuesday said they were opposed to allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"We stand firm in our position, not to open for Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international sports participation," wrote the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and Icelandic committees in a joint statement.

"The situation with the war in Ukraine has not changed," the statement said. "Now is not the right time to consider their return; that is our position."

They said they wanted to "reaffirm our steadfast support once again with the Ukrainian people and the demand for peace."

The International Olympic Committee said last month it was exploring a "pathway" to allow competitors from both countries to take part in the Paris Olympics, sparking an angry reaction.

Ukraine responded by saying it would consider boycotting the Games. So did Estonia.

Poland's sports minister, Kamil Bortniczuk, said that as many as 40 countries could refuse to take part in Paris if Russia and its ally Belarus were allowed to compete.

Earlier on Tuesday, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said she was opposed to Russians competing at the Games next year, if the war in Ukraine was still going on. — Agence France-Presse