Vladimir Putin criticised countries that refuse to allow Russia back into international sports, saying the move is “political rather than legal” and that it undermines commitments made by the International Olympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The comments came after a string of European teams announced they would not play the Russian national ice‑hockey team at the 2027 World Championships, to be held in Germany.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Finland all declared that they would refuse to face Russia at the tournament, which has already been scheduled and drawn without the Russian side. The decision follows a CAS ruling that allowed Russia to participate in the championships, a move that has been welcomed by some but condemned by Ukraine and other nations.
Russia has been banned from International Ice Hockey Federation events since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Although some restrictions have eased in recent months, the war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions, making it Europe’s most severe conflict since World War II.
In a televised government meeting, Putin praised the IOC and CAS for upholding the Olympic Charter, but warned that “not all countries are prepared to honour the commitments they once undertook.” He added that the continued exclusion of Russian sport is a political decision rather than a legal one.
Amid the ice‑hockey dispute, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Russia would not be allowed to compete at next month’s World Junior Hockey Championships, further illustrating the broader sporting isolation the country faces.
Putin, who has often been seen playing ice hockey during his presidency, remains a vocal critic of the restrictions, arguing that they undermine the spirit of international competition.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
