The situation today is that Russian athletes are not allowed to participate in international ski races, following the invasion of Ukraine. But at the weekend, the International Ski Federation (FIS) will decide whether the ban will be maintained for the coming season. – There is only one possible decision on Saturday. The exclusion of Russia and Belarus will apply for the coming winter as well, says news commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt and elaborates: – Russia and Ukraine are two such central players in international skiing that they cannot be pitted against each other in a competitive context. as the war has developed in recent weeks. This has become a common sight in skiing. Aleksandr Bolshunov with a number of Norwegians in tow. Photo: Lise Åserud From the Russian side, a dark future is also predicted for the sport, if they are banned from the winter. – I can say that cross-country skiing, and sports all over the world, cannot exist without Russia, said former Russian ski star Julia Chepalova three weeks ago. But how will a Russian ban actually affect cross-country skiing? Violent dominance news has made a review of all races with both Russian and Norwegian participation in the last three seasons. It clearly shows that cross-country skiing without Russia is changing the sport on the men’s side. – Unfortunately, the numbers don’t lie. The last few seasons have been an international match between Norway and Russia, says Torgeir Bjørn. The results from the last 64 individual men’s races in world cups and championships show, among other things, that: Norwegian and Russian men have taken 80 percent of the top five positions in the last three seasons. There have been almost only Russians and Norwegians in the top ten in several races. Eight of the ten best runners in the World Cup were from Norway and Russia, when the Russians were banned in March. 15 of the 20 best athletes were Russians or Norwegians. 13 of the top 15 runners were from these two nations in the distance cup. The last three seasons have shown a similar pattern. If you take Russia away, big changes occur. Here you can see how the results list from the last exercise of the Olympics would have changed without the Russians: And this is how it would have gone if you had removed Russia from all results lists since November 2019. Norway would have won almost 80 percent of all races. Norway had taken all the medals in the WC in 2021. They would also have taken the quintuple in two of the exercises. The men’s performance in the Olympics last winter received criticism. Without the Russians, there would have been four golds and two medals in three of the exercises. On average, Norway would have had more than three of the top five in every single race in the last three seasons. In distance running, the proportion would be approximately 70 per cent. Norway would have had seven of the eight best in the distance cup last season. Clearly says no. If next season follows the pattern from the last three seasons, the numbers give a clue as to how the season might turn out. – There is only one solitary swallow from Finland, Niskanen, who has interfered. In addition, there is an Italian, Pellegrino and a pair of Frenchmen, Chanavat and Jouve, in the sprint. There are only those who have been real challengers for Norway, in addition to Russia, says Bjørn and adds: – When there is only one team left on the field, it will almost be a “walkover” for Norway. And that is of course not beneficial for the sport internationally. National team runner Hans Christer Holund is ready in his speech about Russia. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB This week the men’s national team is gathered in Oslo. They agree on one thing; the Russians cannot go to the World Cup or the World Cup as long as the war is going on in Ukraine. – For the cross-country product, viewed in isolation, it’s really cool. It’s a shame that we don’t have that confrontation with Russia, says Erik Valnes, who at the same time is crystal clear that it is not right that they are allowed to run until the winter. He gets support from teammate Hans Christer Holund: – Russia is at war. We have to show what we stand for and not allow them to go skiing, as if nothing has happened, says Holund. International failure Last year gave a foretaste of what happens when one of the two major nations fails to perform. Norway withdrew from a number of World Cup races due to the pandemic. The result was, among other things, that Russia had six runners among the seven best in the Tour de Ski. The same thing happened when Russia was banned from the World Cup in March this year, after the invasion of Ukraine. Then there was, among other things, a triple Norwegian in the five-mile in Kollen and five among the six best in the World Cup final in Falun. Aleksandr Bolshunov won Olympic gold in the five thousand (shortened to 28 km). Four of the top six were Russians. Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP – We have a golden generation which is certainly coming to an end. But then we also have better financial resources than most. This has coincided with an international decline in good runners, says Torgeir Bjørn. He points out that a number of nations have become far weaker than they were a few years ago. – This has led to Norway having enormous results internationally. But Russia has a team that is almost on par, says Bjørn. Earlier this autumn, the general secretary of the FIS, Michel Vion, expressed that already this season it could be relevant for Russian participation again. It created a great debate. news expert Torgeir Bjørn Photo: Mikal Aaserud / news Norway and Sweden have recently threatened a boycott if the Russians are allowed to participate in the World Cup and World Cup. And there has been broad agreement across a number of sports that banning is the only right thing to do in the current situation. Bjørn points out that, based on the information he has, it is not appropriate to let Russia in the ski track again now. Results with and without Russia Distribution of top 5 positions in all individual men’s races where Norway and Russia have participated in the last three years. 2019/20 (30 competitions) Russia 26.66 per cent Norway: 53.33 per cent Other 26 per cent Without Russia: Norway: 68.66 per cent Other: 31.33 per cent 2020/21 (13 competitions) Russia: 24.3 per cent Norway 60 percent Other: 15.7 percent Without Russia Norway: 71.4 percent Other: 28.6 percent 2021/22 (20 competitions) Russia: 28 percent Norway: 46 percent Other: 26 percent Without Russia: Norway: 58 percent Other: 42 per cent Total for 64 races in the last three seasons Russia 26.6 per cent Norway 53.4 per cent Others 20 per cent Without Russia: Norway: 65.9 per cent Others: 34.1 per cent For only distance races in the period 2019/20-21/22- season Russia: 32 percent Norway: 53.5 percent Others 14.5 percent Without Russia Norway 69.5 percent Others: 30.5 percent For championships (2019, 2021 and 2022) Russia; 33.3 per cent Norway: 50 per cent Other 16.7 per cent Without Russia: Norway 56.7 per cent Other 43.3 per cent Norway would have had at least four of the top five in 27 of 64 races without Russian competitors. That is, 42 percent of the competitions. Source: The International Ski Federation (FIS) Falling TV numbers At the same time, the decision has a commercial consequence for FIS. Russia has saved their declining TV numbers in recent years. The figures for cross-country skiing were the lowest in five years last winter. The Russians then accounted for 29 percent of the viewers, according to a report carried out for FIS by the media analysis agency Nielsen. The figures for Russian interest actually peaked when the Russians dominated the Tour de Ski last year, in Norway’s absence. The total viewing figures for cross-country skiing have fallen by 20 percent since the 2017/18 season. The Nielsen report points out, among other things, that rights holders have changed hands from public broadcasters to commercial players and that some races have been cancelled. At the same time, the Russians have more than doubled the number of TV viewers. One reason is that cross-country skiing was made more accessible via the free channel MatchTV. The Nielsen report also points to the “Bolshunov effect”, as a contributing reason why the Russians had a growth in viewership of 143 per cent. news commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt Photo: ALEM ZEBIZ Saltvedt points out that the consequences for cross-country skiing are potentially catastrophic, but that the sport has not been seen as the most important for the FIS management. – The possible consequences of allowing Russia and Belarus to participate are so unclear that FIS will never dare to make such a decision, says Saltvedt.
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– Unfortunately, the numbers don’t lie – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
