The UK are set to hold a showdown summit of 30 nations today regarding Russia and Belarus' potential involvement at the 2024 Olympics.
After President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine last February, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ordered organisers and international sports bodies to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in international events.
However, the governing body appear to have backtracked slightly on their tough stance as they assembled late last month to state they are exploring the potential for competitors from both nations to be allowed to compete as neutral athletes in Paris - a move which has been criticised by many.
In response, newly appointed UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will chair a summit of 30 nations today to discuss the issue, with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky set to deliver a live opening address. The 45-year-old, who was in the UK earlier this week, had initially said allowing Russian athletes to feature would send a message that "terror is somehow acceptable".
Ukraine's sports minister Vadym Guttsait has also said the country could skip the next edition of the Olympics if the Russians are present. The IOC recently announced it would "explore a pathway" to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris, adding that "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport". It added: “Governments must not decide which athletes can participate in which competition and which athletes cannot."
Frazer, appointed culture secretary just three days ago, said: "President Zelensky told the UK in Parliament this week of the suffering still being felt by many Ukrainians. As he did so, the IOC [International Olympic Committee] was continuing to ignore the international allies stepping up their efforts for peace and disregard how the Olympics will give Putin the perfect platform to promote Russia and legitimise his illegal war.
"We must urge the IOC to show that the Olympic values mean something. We must make clear there are consequences to this illegal invasion. We cannot allow Russian athletes to line up alongside Team GB and everyone else on the world stage."
Poland's sport and tourism minister Kamil Bortniczuk claimed last week up to 40 countries could boycott the 2024 Games with the involvement of Russia looming. His comments came after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia rejected the IOC’s intentions to allow the stars from the two nations to compete. Earlier this week the Olympic committees of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden then expressed their opposition.
The Nordic Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Confederations of Sports said on Tuesday they intended to reinforce their 'steadfast support with the Ukrainian people and the demand for peace'. "The situation with the war in Ukraine has not changed. Now is not the right time to consider their return; that is our position," they added.
Some of Ukraine’s sports stars have spoken out on the possible participation of Russia, such as boxing world champion Oleksandr Usyk. He said any medals Russian athletes won under a neutral banner would be "medals of blood, death and tears".
His compatriot, tennis star Elina Svitolina, recently visited her home country for the first time since the war began and called for athletes from the two countries to be banned in order to prevent any nations from considering a boycott. "Almost all sports venues have been destroyed," she said.
"When the war is still here and people are still dying because of the Russian army, we can't go and lead normal lives like nothing is happening. I hope we don't have to make this decision of boycotting the Olympics."
