Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen has been criticised for her comments on Russia ©Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen

The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) has been pitched into constitutional turmoil and conflict with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, one of Norway's two IOC members, alongside Kristin Kloster Aasen, admitted having advised the IOC that Norway supported the proposal to admit neutral Russian and Belarusian competitors to the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

In a stormy meeting of Norway's 55 sports federations, cross-country skier Jacobsen was confronted with the accusation that her statement to the IOC had been the exact opposite of the majority national view - no concession to Russia on any account during the Ukraine invasion.

This collective stance was publicly endorsed by foremost Olympic medallists Karsten Warholm - 400 metres hurdles world champion in a world record time at Tokyo 2020 - and rowing silver medallist Kjetil Borch. 

Tokyo 2020 rowing silver medallist Kjetil Borch has claimed that Norwegian IOC member Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen never consulted with the country's athletes before making a statement supporting the participation of Russia and Belarus at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images
Tokyo 2020 rowing silver medallist Kjetil Borch has claimed that Norwegian IOC member Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen never consulted with the country's athletes before making a statement supporting the participation of Russia and Belarus at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

Norway's premier newspaper VG quoted Warholm's forthright dismissal.

"Russia uses sport as propaganda, their war is damned," Warholm said.

"There has been no communication [on this issue] with our athletes [by Jacobsen]."

Meanwhile Borch lamented: "Jacobsen has admitted she advocated, within the IOC, discussion on acceptance of Russia and Belarus." 

Jacobsen's position is doubly controversial, as she is additionally a member of the IOC's 20-person Athletes' Commission. 

Her complicity in misrepresentation of Norway's emphatic principle may well oblige her resignation from the Commission - she is alleged to have told her compatriot Aasen that "Norwegian athletes' opinion is divided".

Aasen is said to have equivocal views regarding the Winter Olympics in Beijing last year, where Russia again breached doping regulations and, under intended neutral representation within their national doping suspension - for continued doping infringement - replaced the medal presentation national anthem with provocative Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky accompaniment, and with attire in symbolic Russian ensign colours.

Kare Lio, President of the Norwegian Handball Federation, was among the leaders of several sports who publicly criticised the IOC position on allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images
Kare Lio, President of the Norwegian Handball Federation, was among the leaders of several sports who publicly criticised the IOC position on allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at Paris 2024 ©Getty Images

Inge Andersen, commercial consultant and former prominent promoter of Oslo's politically ruptured bid in 2015 as Winter Olympic host for 2022 and promoter of Lillehammer's spectacular Youth Olympic Games a year later, warns that the controversy in opposition to IOC policy may forfeit any prospect of a renewed Norwegian winter bid "for another 15 years."

It was apparent in this week's debate that all speakers demanded Russia’s exclusion next year.

Kare Lio, President of the Norwegian Handball Federation, claimed the IOC’s intention was "perfuming" Paris 2024, with his view supported by Leif Stormer of orienteering, who said that support for Russia is "a neutral impossibility."

Meanwhile, Tage Pettersen, President of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation, described Russian sympathy as "provocative."

Suggestion that athletes might boycott Paris 2024 was countered by Jacobsen, who claimed this would be a breach of the IOC Charter.