Norway plans tighter entry rules for Russian and Belarusian athletes

Norway announced plans on November 12 to refuse entry to professional athletes from Russia and Belarus, together with their accompanying support staff, when travelling to compete. The government said it wanted the restriction to apply while the war in Ukraine continues.

The justice ministry will instruct the immigration and police authorities to apply the measure under immigration law. Its announcement said the changes would take effect shortly, without giving a commencement date, and described them as a tightening of Norway’s existing restrictive entry practice.

The government linked its decision to sporting bodies easing restrictions on participation by Russian and Belarusian competitors. It said those changes had increased the potential number of athletes and staff seeking to enter Norway.