The Dutch government is considering using visa restrictions to stop Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing under their national flags in the Netherlands.
Sports Minister Mirjam Sterk said the Cabinet would use the measures available to prevent participation involving Russian flags, anthems and other national symbols.
The position applies to individual athletes, national teams and club teams from Russia and Belarus.
No visa ban has been introduced. The government is still examining its options.
The issue could affect speed skating events connected to the 2030 Winter Olympics.
Thialf ice arena in Heerenveen is due to host Olympic speed skating competitions. It will be the first Olympic competition held in the Netherlands since 1928.
Russian skaters could qualify for the events following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to lift the Russian Olympic Committee’s suspension.
When asked what would happen if Russian athletes qualified to compete in Heerenveen, Sterk said: “You would have to look at what that means for the visas.”
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023 after it included sporting organisations from Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.
The IOC provisionally lifted that suspension in July 2026 after the Russian organisation removed the regional bodies from its membership.
The Netherlands is lobbying the IOC to reverse its decision.
The Dutch government argues that Russia uses international sport to make political statements.
The Netherlands joined Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Sweden in asking the European Commission to take action.
The nine countries want the European Union to stop providing funds through Erasmus+ and other programmes to sporting organisations that readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes under their national symbols.
Sporting federations have the main responsibility for deciding who can compete. However, the Dutch government can control entry into the country through visa rules.
D66 MP Hanneke van der Werf supported the Cabinet’s position.
“Sport is not separate from reality when a regime deliberately uses it for political ends,” she said.
The government has not explained how a possible visa restriction would work or whether neutral athletes would receive exemptions.
