CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy ― Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych stated on Monday a helmet he has utilized in coaching on the Milan Cortina Video games with photos of compatriots killed throughout the conflict in Ukraine can’t be utilized in Olympic competitors after being instructed by the IOC that it violates a rule on political statements.
The helmet, which depicts a number of athletes killed within the conflict ― a few of whom had been Heraskevych’s associates ― will now probably must be shelved following a go to from an IOC consultant.
Andrew Milligan – PA Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Heraskevych, who’s his nation’s flag bearer on the Video games, stated Toshio Tsurunaga, the Worldwide Olympic Committee consultant accountable for communications between athletes, nationwide Olympic committees and the IOC, had gone to the Athletes’ Village to tell him.
“He stated it’s due to Rule 50,” Heraskevych instructed Reuters. Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Constitution states that “no type of demonstration or political, spiritual or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic websites, venues or different areas.”
The choice to put on the helmet in Milan earned reward from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Writing on Telegram, Zelenskiy thanked Heraskevych “for reminding the world of the worth of our wrestle.
“This reality can’t be inconvenient, inappropriate, or known as a ‘political act at a sporting occasion.’ It’s a reminder to the entire world of what fashionable Russia is,” Zelenskiy stated. “And it’s exactly this that reminds everybody of the worldwide function of sports activities and the historic mission of the Olympic motion ― it’s all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine stays devoted to this. Russia proves in any other case.”
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Earlier on Monday the IOC stated it had not acquired any official request from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee to make use of the helmet in competitors, which begins on Feb. 12.
“Up to now, the IOC has not acquired any request from the NOC (Nationwide Olympic Committee) for the athlete to put on the helmet within the competitors,” an IOC spokesperson stated. “As soon as a submission is made, the IOC will have a look at the request.”
Heraskevych instructed Reuters the helmet depicted teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey participant Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov and dancer Daria Kurdel.
Heraskevych, who held up a “No Battle in Ukraine” signal on the Beijing 2022 Olympics days earlier than Russia’s invasion, had stated he meant to respect Olympic guidelines prohibiting political demonstrations at venues whereas nonetheless guaranteeing Ukraine’s plight remained seen throughout the Video games.
Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus had been largely barred from worldwide sport, however the IOC has since backed their gradual return below strict circumstances.
Moscow and Minsk say sport ought to stay separate from worldwide conflicts.
There have been a variety of incidents over time the place athletes have protested on the sphere of play or on the medals podium.
Essentially the most well-known case dates again to the 1968 Summer season Olympics in Mexico Metropolis when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists throughout the 200 meters medal ceremony to protest racial injustice within the U.S.
That led to their expulsion from the Video games, though Smith saved his gold medal and Carlos his bronze.
Extra just lately, on the 2024 Paris Summer season Olympics, Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash, a member of the refugee Olympic crew, was disqualified after sporting a cape with the slogan “Free Afghan Girls” throughout a pre-qualifying competitors.
Nonetheless, there have additionally been circumstances the place athletes and groups escaped punishment when their motion was not deemed political.
Australia’s ladies’s soccer crew unfurled a flag of the primary peoples of Australia on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 however, whereas it was not one of many acknowledged flags of taking part nations on the Video games, the crew was not sanctioned.
Two Chinese language biking medalists who wore badges that includes the pinnacle of their nation’s former chief Mao Zedong on the rostrum in Tokyo escaped with a warning.
