Norwegian Fencing Federation announced on Friday that Norwegian fencers will not compete in competitions where Russian and Belarusian competitors will compete, adding their country to the list of countries who oppose the return of athletes from those two states.
Events in Denmark, Germany, and Poland were postponed as a result of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) allowing fencers from Russia and Belarus to compete in international competitions immediately before the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifiers.
Additionally, the annual satellite fencing competition in Oslo was canceled by the Norwegian Federation. Instead, it said that it will organize a matchup between Sweden and Finland separate from the FIE World Cup.
To show support for Ukraine and the need for peace, the association has worked both nationally and with the other Nordic fencing federations to get all Russian and Belarusian sports banned since the invasion, according to a statement from the federation.
Since last March, when Russia invaded Ukraine in what Moscow refers to as a “special military operation,” athletes from Russia and Belarus have been prohibited from competing in the majority of premier international sporting events.
