sport news UK to host 30-nation summit over Russian participation at the Olympics in Paris ... trends now

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The Government will hold a summit of 30 nations on Friday in a bid to get Russians banned from next year's Olympics.

New culture secretary Lucy Frazer will chair the meeting to 'coordinate an international response' after the International Olympic Committee opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris as neutrals despite the war of Ukraine.

Representatives from USA, Canada, France, Germany and Poland are among those attending, with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give a live opening address via video link.

The summit comes after countries including Ukraine and Poland threatened to boycott Paris 2024 if Russians are allowed to take part.

Frazer said: 'President Zelenskyy told the UK in Parliament this week of the suffering still being felt by many Ukrainians. As he did so, the IOC 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.