Anniken Vestby, the president of the Norwegian Chess Association, has signaled openness to receiving applications from Russian athletes who seek to change their sports citizenship. The association has clarified that the door remains open for those who meet the key criterion of not supporting hostilities, a standard it intends to apply consistently as part of its broader international competition participation policy. In communicating this stance, Vestby emphasized that the organization maintains its established approach to eligibility, noting that applications for sports citizenship will be judged on a case by case basis, with a careful review process for all submissions other than those that clearly implicate political support for aggression or conflict. The remarks were reported by NRK and reflect a careful balancing act between national sports governance and the evolving landscape of international competition.
