After warnings that his country might boycott the Games, Ukraine’s president will speak at a summit to discuss Russia’s participation next year in Paris Olympics.

Volodymyrzelenskyy will give a video address for more than 30 countries to discuss how to respond to the possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the Games, despite Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), while denying plans to have a Russian or Belarusian delegation in Paris 2024, said it would “explore a path” for athletes from these two countries to compete under the same conditions as neutrals.

Vadym Guttsait is Ukraine’s sports minister and also the president of the Olympic Committee. He said that Ukraine could boycott the Games if Russian or Belarusian athletes were allowed to compete.

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Zelenskyy previously stated that efforts to bring back Russian athletes to the Olympic Games “are attempts to convince the entire world that terror can somehow be tolerated”.

Ukrainian heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has echoed the call for the ban. Usyk stated that any medals won under a neutral banner by Moscow’s athletes will be “medals blood”.

Since the start of World War II, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been expelled from numerous international competitions.

Lucy Frazer, Culture Secretary, will be leading Friday’s meeting. She stated: “We cannot permit Russian athletes to line-up alongside Team GB or anyone else on the global stage.

“We need to urge the IOC that Olympic values are not just words. This illegal invasion must be punished.

Continue reading: Can the UK send fighter jets into Ukraine?

Ukraine expects major Russian offensive

IOC warns against boycott

The Olympic committees of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Norway supported earlier this week calls for the lifting of the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes for the Games.

Last week, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Lithuania voiced opposition to the inclusion.

In the initial days following the invasion, the IOC recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be excluded from international sports.

Thomas Bach, the IOC President, has stated that the measure was only meant to protect the athletes. He also said that it was imperative that they not be discriminated against because they have a passport.

The committee advised that any boycott would only affect athletes from the involved country or countries.

Anne Hidalgo, Paris Mayor, stated that she doesn’t want a Russian delegation to next year’s Games. While the war in Ukraine continues, Anne Hidalgo said so.

Paris 2024 organizers stated that they would abide by the IOC decision.

The Olympics will be held in Paris next year, from 26 July through 11 August.

Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian athletes last year, leaving tennis stars Daniil Medvedev (left) and Aryna Sabalenka (right) unable to compete.