Britain wants Olympic sponsors to "push" the IOC, according to media

The British government has urged major corporate sponsors to lobby for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Lucy Frazer, the culture and sport secretary, sent a letter to 13 companies, including Coca-Cola, Visa, Intel and Samsung, calling on them to "join us in pressing the IOC to address the concerns raised." The IOC recommended that international sports federations bar Russia and Belarus from global events shortly after Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Athletes from both sanctioned countries can still participate in some sports under a neutral flag, although widespread bans remain in place. In January, the IOC said that a pathway for "neutral athletes" with Russian and Belarussian passports should be "further explored." Moscow has repeatedly criticized the ban, accusing the IOC of "politicizing" sport.