As the UK prepares for talks with over 30 countries, opposition to Russians competing at the Paris Olympics next year is growing.

Next Friday, February 10, 2018, will be the summit.

In defiance of the pleas of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin, the International Olympic Committee is being criticized for allowing athletes from Russia to participate in Paris as neutrals next year.

Ukraine war-the most recent updates

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On Friday, Ukrainian Olympic officials resolved to consult about a possible boycott of the Olympics as well as an outright ban of Russian athletes. This was supported by leaders from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania that border Russia and have gained independence in 1991.

Jurgita Siugzdiniene, Lithuania’s sports minister, told Sky News that her British counterpart had organized a virtual meeting next Friday to discuss the exclusion of athletes from Russia or Belarus from the Olympics.

The meeting will include representatives from Canada, Japan and New Zealand, as well as European governments. According to Poland, it is possible to form a coalition with around 40 countries, which includes the United States, Britain, and Canada.

Ms Siugzdiniene stated, “We should do all [so] that Russian and Belarusian athletes wouldn’t participate in the Olympics.

“That’s the thing we should agree on and that is very important. So, we don’t have to talk about the boycott.”

Last week, the IOC announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus could participate in the IOC’s Paris . This was because they had not actively supported war.

“I see it is an attempt to legitimize and distract attention from Russia’s war of aggression towards Ukraine,” Ms Siugzdiniene stated.

“I believe they could use this platform. It would be very unfair to offer this opportunity to them.”

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As punishment for Russia’s state-sponsored anti-doping program, Russian athletes were prohibited from participating in the 2018-2022 winter and summer Olympics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zilenskyy stated that any neutral flag for Russia in Paris will be “stained by blood”.

Vadym Hutzait, Ukraine’s Sports Minister and President of the Olympic Committee, stated that members had united against the idea of allowing Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete at Friday’s meeting.

He appealed to sports authorities and said that “as long as war is continuing, as long our motherland continues to be bombed, and as long we are fighting for freedom, independence, and democracy, we have a great desire not to see them [Russians or Belarusians].

“There is an international discussion and some countries have already supported us.”

He said: “The highest price for Ukrainians’ lives has been paid.” When our Ukrainians are in grave danger, we have no right to compromise.

The IOC is asking sports federations to permit any Russians or Belarusians “actively supporting” the war in Ukraine to participate. It also argues that it would be discriminatory for athletes to be banned based solely on their citizenship.

It responded to the comment that Apartheid-era South Africa was excluded from the Olympics for over 20 years. They pointed out that UN sanctions were in effect at the time.

The IOC stated that there are currently no UN sanctions against Russia or Belarus.

Russia is a permanent member to the UN Security Council and can veto any resolution.

The IOC stated that athletes and sports bodies must not be subject to government pressure. It added that its mission is to “unite the world in peaceful competition”.