Ukrainian Olympian Says IOC Banned Helmet Picturing Those Killed In Russian Invasion

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych said Monday that the helmet he used in training for the Milan Cortina Games, which bears images of citizens killed during the war in Ukraine, cannot be used in Olympic competition after the IOC said it violated a rule regarding political speech.

The helmet, which depicts several athletes killed in the war (some of whom were Heraskevych’s friends), will probably have to be shelved following a visit from an IOC representative.

Heraskevych, who was his country’s flag bearer at the Games, said that Toshio Tsurunaga, the International Olympic Committee’s representative responsible for communication between athletes, national Olympic committees and the IOC, went to the Athletes’ Village to inform him.

“He said it was because of Rule 50,” Heraskevych told Reuters. 50.2 of the Olympic Charter. Its rule states that “no demonstrations of any kind or political, religious or racial propaganda are permitted in any Olympic venue, venue or other area.”

The decision to wear a helmet in Milan received praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Writing on Telegram, Zelenskiy thanked Heraskevych “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle.”

“This fact cannot be offensive, inappropriate or called a ‘political action at a sporting event.'” “This reminds the whole world of what modern Russia is,” Zelenskiy said. “And this is exactly what reminds everyone of the global role of sport and the historical mission of the Olympic movement; It’s all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine remains true to this. Russia proves otherwise.”

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Earlier on Monday, the IOC said it had not received any official request from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee to use the helmet in competitions starting on February 12.

“To date, the IOC has not received any requests from the NOC (National Olympic Committee) for the athlete to wear a helmet in competition,” an IOC spokesman said. “Once an application is submitted, the IOC will look at the request.”

The helmet depicts young weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Khabarov and dancer Daria Kurdel, Heraskevych told Reuters.

Days before Russia’s invasion, Heraskevych, who opened a “No to War in Ukraine” banner at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, said that he aimed to ensure that Ukraine’s plight remained visible during the Games, while also complying with Olympic rules banning political demonstrations in venues.

Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were largely banned from participating in international sports, but the IOC has since supported their gradual return under strict conditions.

Moscow and Minsk say sports should remain separate from international conflicts.

There have been numerous incidents over the years where athletes protested on the field of play or on the medal podium.

The most famous case dates back to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists in the air during the 200-meter medal ceremony to protest racial injustice in the United States.

This led to their expulsion from the Games, but Smith retained his gold medal and Carlos his bronze.

More recently, at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash, a member of the refugee Olympic team, was disqualified for wearing a cape with the slogan “Free Afghan Women” in the qualifying competition.

However, there have been cases where athletes and teams have escaped punishment if their actions were not political.

The Australian women’s football team unfurled Australia’s first peoples’ flag at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but although it is not one of the recognized flags of the countries participating in the Games, the team was not given the nod.

Two Chinese cycling medalists who wore badges featuring the head of their country’s former leader Mao Zedong on the podium in Tokyo were spared with a warning.