Broken track: will we see Bolshunov at new marathons in Europe?
The idea of taking part in a new mass competition in Europe has so far proved impossible for Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov. After his triumph at the Moonlight Classic marathon in South Tyrol, there were rumors that the circumvention of FIS sanctions would continue. However, the organizers of the race in Gzis, part of the Euroloppet series, refused the application. So in the coming days, San Sanych will return to Russia to complete preparations for the national championship, which begins March 1 in Kazan. Nevertheless, the first foreign performance of our main winter sports star in three years gathered a lot of positive feedback. This means that the experiment can be replicated at other competitions, including other Russian tops. More about the possible options - in the material "Izvestia".
Military Games in Lucerne
First of all - about the layouts and restrictions. The ski season in the northern hemisphere continues until the end of April - there are dozens of competitions ahead, the weather and snow cover do not inspire concerns yet. However, from the list of potential options we should immediately cross off the starts from the FIS calendar, as well as the Worldloppet and Euroloppet series - these marathon associations are under the patronage of the international federation and support strict political sanctions, allowing only our amateur skiers to compete. So the famous races in Holmenkollen (Norway) and Engadin (Switzerland), the legendary Swedish Vasaloppet and even the Icelandic Blafjallagangan are not considered as options for performances, even if a resource is found to overcome the inevitable difficulties with late applications and visas.
In addition, until March 9, the Russians are busy at the competitions in Kazan. Marathons and ultramarathons are scheduled for March 22-23 and April 12-13 in the Komi Republic and Murmansk region as part of the national championship. But let's imagine that these competitions in the name of the great goal of promoting our sport abroad and getting international practice can be skipped. However, there is another serious start in the calendar - the World Military Winter Games in Lucerne (Switzerland). They are scheduled for March 23-30, but nothing is clear about them yet. Will Russians be there, and if so, in what composition, with or without a flag? Everything is covered in fog, although theoretically we could send a very strong squad of skiers to the Alpine confederation.
The International Council of Military Sports (CISM) is the only global sports organization that has not supported sanctions against Russia and allows our athletes to compete under their own flag. This regularly leads to scandals with Western militaries, and now things are further complicated by the fact that the Lucerne Games are included in the FIS calendar. Besides, the Russian delegation in Switzerland will surely face visa problems and hysteria of the Western media. It is not clear how the organizers will get out of it.
But the risks for Russians are not insignificant either. The fact is that the current IOC criteria do not allow athletes associated with the Russian Armed Forces to receive neutral status. And the performance at CISM competitions only emphasizes this connection. Any Russian participant of the World Military Winter Games risks being left out of the Olympics-2026 in Milan.
Will the Iron Curtain be raised?
Where can Russia's top skiers realistically apply? If we are talking about the period from mid-March, then, alas, only Scandinavia and North America. In the Alps at this time of year it is already too warm. The only option in Central Europe is the ski festival in Galtür (Austria) on March 29. Night sprint and uphill race here are included in the FIS calendar, but the mass 42 km freestyle marathon is not. The decision on the application of representatives of the Russian national team is at the discretion of the organizers. It's about the same story with the Sovereign 2 Silver Marathon in British Columbia (Canada) on April 5-6. It is very far from Russia, and the bonus for the first place is only $500, but it is a foreign start.
Among extreme Challenges we can mention the Arctic Circle Race on April 4 in Greenland. This is a 160 km race - not for the faint-hearted. But in the light of the disputes about the annexation of the island to the United States, the excitement is guaranteed. In general, the bulk of foreign ski marathons in late March and April will be held in Norway, as well as in the north of Sweden and Finland. Taking into account the attitude of the authorities of these countries and local media, it will be very difficult for Russians to get there - visa obstacles and boycotts from the organizers are guaranteed. So, perhaps, it makes sense for our stars to immediately tune in to their home counterparts - the Ugra Marathon on April 5-6 and the Avacha Marathon in Kamchatka on April 13.
There is an important nuance in all the sanctions calculations. The negotiations between the Trump administration and Russian officials, which have begun in Saudi Arabia, give hope that the restrictions will be eased, at least in the cultural and sports sphere. This is definitely not a priority demand of the Russian delegation, but as a goodwill gesture on the part of the Americans - why not?
However, if such a thing happens, the sports bureaucratic machine will be turning for a very long time, and it can be accelerated only by sanctions of the U.S. Ministry of Finance against particularly stubborn Russophobes. Alas, these are only dreams for now. Although the very fact that the leaders of the Western world have begun to speak freely with Russia is a huge shift in consciousness and a signal to sports organizations that it is time to send the iron curtain around our sport to the dustbin of history.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
