The International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a warning to Ukraine’s Vladislav Heraskevich regarding his protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Heraskevich has refused to take off what he refers to as a “memorial helmet,” which features portraits of Ukrainian individuals who lost their lives in the conflict. This defiance came despite numerous public and private alerts from the IOC about breaching established rules on political expressions.
On Wednesday, the IOC escalated its stance, urging Heraskevich to comply before the first skeleton event on Thursday.
The 27-year-old, also serving as Ukraine’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony, has not indicated any intention to adhere to the committee’s directives and wore his helmet again in a practice session on Tuesday night.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams commented that they would reach out to the athlete again, emphasizing the various avenues available for him to express his grief—through social media, press conferences, or mixed zones. He underscored the importance of the athlete’s participation, saying, “We really want him to have those moments.” He noted that guidelines are well-documented and were agreed upon by thousands of athletes, emphasizing the desire for competition settings to remain focused.
Adams added, “He can express his grief, and we encourage that. We truly feel for him, but we need it to be clear: it’s the setting that matters, not the message.”
This regulation stems from Article 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, prohibiting any form of political, religious, or racial demonstrations in official Olympic spaces.
When asked about the potential for disqualification, Adams suggested that contemplating such “hypotheticals” would be unproductive, stressing the goal of facilitating Heraskevich’s participation.
Adams noted, “There are rules and regulations that athletes want enforced, and those will be upheld.”
For Heraskevich, surrendering his competition spot seems unlikely. He finished second behind Britain’s Matt Weston in Tuesday’s practice, and earlier that week was timed third fastest.
His resolve appears strong, as he stated, “We used it in all of our training. We used it today, we’ll continue using it tomorrow, and on race day. We firmly believe we’re not breaking any rules.”
Furthermore, the Ukrainian delegation has formally contested the ban on the helmet. Heraskevich was joined by luge athlete Olena Smaja, whose glove displayed the message, “Memory is not a violation.”
