Helsinki · Borzoi
Finland shuts out Russian athletes – the Borzoi never entered the cross-country anyway
Der Hündeler, Edition of Thursday, 12 November 2026 (edition 2)
What happened
Finland says it will restrict entry for Russian athletes because of the war in Ukraine, potentially affecting a number of winter sports, with figure skating and cross-country skiing the first to be affected. The move follows a backlash in Finland to Russia being reinstated for the ice hockey world championships. “As long as Russia’s war of aggression continues, Russian athletes have no business in Finland,” said Elina Valtonen, the foreign minister. Their entry, she said, would be a threat to Finland’s international relations.
What does this mean for your Borzoi?
The Borzoi hails from the court of the tsars, but a pedigree is not a passport: a Borzoi raised in rural Switzerland is Swiss, pays its annual dog tax to the local council and remains free to visit Helsinki. It would not have qualified for the affected events in any case. The breed is a sprinter, built for short, very fast runs across open country; after a few hundred metres it considers the matter closed. Cross-country skiing goes against its character, figure skating against its four very long legs. It receives the news in silence, gazes eastwards for a while, then back at the sofa.
What you can do now: Before travelling abroad, check your dog’s pet passport. For a Borzoi, pack a cushion as well.