Carney: Russian and Belarusian athletes will not compete for their countries in Canada, including at the World Juniors

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on November 3 that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be permitted to represent their countries at international sporting events hosted in Canada, including the upcoming World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Alberta. Speaking in Antigua at the Commonwealth Summit, Carney was asked whether Russian players would be granted visas. He replied: “While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified and horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada.” He then addressed the tournament directly: “So if you're asking specifically about the world juniors, the Russians will not be there.” (Cover photo is a file photo of Carney at the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua.)

Joint federal statement: immigration powers, case-by-case assessment

The federal government issued a joint statement the same day from Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Secretary of State for Sport Adam van Koeverden, saying it would use its immigration powers to individually assess and prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from entering Canada to compete under their national symbols. “This measure is not directed at the Russian and Belarusian people. Rather, it is intended to prevent the governments of Russia and Belarus from using international sporting events hosted in Canada as platforms for state representation, political legitimacy and propaganda,” the statement said. It confirmed that individual athletes competing in a neutral capacity will continue to be able to participate in international events hosted in Canada, and that events receiving Government of Canada funding must continue to prohibit Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national symbols.

Answer to the CAS ruling; World Juniors open December 26

Carney's position is a direct answer to the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling of October 30, which overturned the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) ban on Russian teams in place since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and required their reinstatement, starting with the World Juniors. The 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship is scheduled for December 26 to January 5, 2027, in Edmonton and Red Deer. Hockey Canada issued a statement supporting the federal government's position and said its board of directors would meet this week to discuss next steps. Meanwhile, European nations including Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Czechia said on November 3 that they would refuse to play Russia.