Zelenskyy Slams Olympics For Disqualifying Ukrainian Athlete Over War Dead Helmet

KYIV, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych on Thursday, saying it went against the spirit of the Games.

He wrote about X: “Sport should not mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors.”

“Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise,” Zelenskiy said, adding that the athlete’s helmet, bearing images of Ukrainian athletes killed in the war, was a reminder of Russian aggression. “No rules were violated.”