Norway, Poland Push Back at World Aquatics’ Reintegration of Russian Athletes
Aquatics officials from Norway and Poland have pushed back at World Aquatics’ dictum last week to allow the return of Russian and Belarussian swimmers back into international competition.
Poland is due to host the 2027 European Diving Championships in Rzeszow. Otylia Jedrzejczak in no uncertain terms said that the Polish Swimming Federation of which she is the head will not host athletes from those countries if the war in Ukraine remains ongoing.
“I informed the European authorities that I am not in a position today to take a decision on whether or not we will pull out of (hosting) the championships planned for next August in Rzeszów,” Jedrzejczak told state news agency PAP. The three-time Olympic medalist continued:
“I don’t know what the global political situation will be then. If there is still a war going on just across our border, then we as Poland will not organize such an event with the participation of Russians.”
Jedrzejczak was the only national representative to oppose the return of Russian and Belarussian athletes at a vote taken in 2025 ahead of the European Championships in Lublin. She was successful in keeping those athletes out of the meet through procedural grounds, however. Though she has gotten support from European Aquatics head Antonio Silva, Jedrzejczak said she is expecting that support to be withdrawn and aligned with World Aquatics’ position.
That would imperil Poland’s ability to host the event. It’s likely that, with Euros in 2027 as an important qualifier for the 2028 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee could weigh in as well.
Jedrzejczak received support from Norwegian Swimming Federation president Cato Bratbaak, who told Reuters that it is not interested in hosting any World Aquatics events at which Russians and Belarussians compete.
“Our position is clear. We will not host any championships as long as Russian and Belarusian senior and junior competitors have full access, entry rights, and are permitted to use their flags and national anthems,” Bratbakk said Tuesday, ahead of a meeting with fellow Nordic countries next week.
Norway is not a regular host of international events. It is also considerably more insulated geographically from the politics happening on Poland’s border since 2022.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been largely banned from international competition in most sports since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, using Belarus for operational support. World Aquatics created a pathway for certain athletes to compete if they met neutral athlete status, with four swimmers of Russian descent competing at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
In February, World Aquatics loosened restrictions on junior athletes from the two countries competing. Two months later, they allowed senior athletes to compete with full national recognition, flags and anthems for winners. The first flashpoint for the debate will be at this summer’s European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
