Is Sports Politics Threatening to Destroy Sport? 4 November 2026 It isn’t just gymnastics that is being affected by visa refusals, political boycotts and disputes over Russia’s return to international competition. Ice hockey is now facing a crisis that threatens the organisation of some of its most important championships. On 30 October, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in favour of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, overturning the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) continued exclusion of Russian national teams. CAS found that the IIHF had not provided sufficient evidence to justify the exclusion on security grounds. The IIHF has expressed disappointment with the ruling but has confirmed that it will comply. However, the decision has triggered a wave of opposition from national federations, governments and commercial sponsors. Six European countries — Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Latvia and the Czech Republic — have announced that they will refu...
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.