A sincere thank you to those of you who have already signed this petition. Your support is greatly appreciated. Can I ask you to do one further thing to assist me. Would you share the petition amongst your friends and social media contacts to increase the circulation so that as many people as possible see it. 

This issue continues to divide opinion:

On Thursday of this week, (10.02.23), the International Olympic Committee urged Ukraine to drop threats of boycotting the Games in Paris.

In a letter, which has been seen by the BBC, IOC president Thomas Bach said comments from Ukrainian officials suggesting allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes would promote the war, are "defamatory".

Yesterday, Friday 11th February, 36 nations met to discuss the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at next year's Games. The summit was chaired by UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.

Speaking via live video link, President Zelensky told the delegation: "While Russia kills and terrorises, representatives of the terrorist state have no place at sports and Olympic competitions”.

A collective statement is expected to be agreed in coming days.

There is a very real danger that the wider world is weary of the war in Ukraine, that it wishes to move on and get back to business as usual. Critically however, the situation in Ukraine has not changed since the IOC's initial decision last February when it banned Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition and to many, the attempt by the IOC to allow the athletes to compete, albeit under a flag of neutrality, is simply inexplicable. Lest we forget, 228 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have died since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

Please show your support for Ukraine by signing and sharing this petition. Thank you.