The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has barred Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a helmet adorned with images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war with Russia at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Heraskevych, Ukraine’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony, had been displaying the helmet during training, featuring portraits of those who lost their lives as a result of the Russian invasion. He announced the IOC’s decision on his Instagram account Monday evening, expressing his intention to formally request an exception to the ban.
According to Heraskevych, an IOC representative, Toshio Tsurunaga, informed him of a “strict prohibition” against wearing the helmet during both training and competition. He further stated that the IOC had not reacted to a separate incident involving an Italian snowboard athlete who competed with a Russian flag on their helmet, a violation of Olympic guidelines. “There was no reaction,” Heraskevych said, according to Europa Press, “and I, am not allowed despite the fact that it was a tribute to deceased athletes, among them Olympians, an Olympic family.”
The IOC cited Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any form of demonstration or political, religious, or racial statements on the field of play or podiums, as the basis for the ban. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams confirmed the decision during a news conference in Milan-Cortina on Tuesday, as reported by CNN. Adams acknowledged the IOC’s understanding of Heraskevych’s desire to honor his fallen colleagues but maintained the demand for a “fair and level playing field” for all athletes.
Despite the prohibition, Heraskevych has vowed to continue wearing the helmet during training sessions. “I will wear it tomorrow and I will wear it for the race day,” he told CNN. “These people sacrificed their lives and since of that, I am able to be here today. I’m able to be at the Olympics and I will not betray them.”
The IOC has offered Heraskevych the option of wearing a black armband as a compromise, a gesture he has not publicly accepted. Adams stated the IOC wants Heraskevych to compete and “have his moment,” but reiterated the helmet cannot be worn on the field of play. “We want all athletes to have their moment and that the point we want all athletes to have a fair and level playing field,” Adams said.
Heraskevych, however, questioned the IOC’s reasoning, referencing the case of German weightlifter Matthias Steiner, who displayed a photograph of his deceased wife on the podium at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “This moment remains one of the most emotional and iconic in the history of the IOC, but unfortunately, for Ukrainians, the IOC seems to have different rules,” he said, according to Europa Press.
The Athletic reported that Heraskevych formally requested an exception to the rule, but the IOC rejected his request. He plans to submit an official claim to the IOC, hoping for a reversal of the decision. As of Wednesday, February 10, the IOC had not issued a further statement regarding Heraskevych’s appeal, and Adams indicated the governing body would contact him on Wednesday, according to CNN.
