CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy ― Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Monday a helmet he has used in training at the Milan Cortina Games with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine cannot be used in Olympic competition after being told by the IOC that it violates a rule on political statements.
The helmet, which depicts several athletes killed in the war ― some of whom were Heraskevych’s friends ― will now likely have to be shelved following a visit from an IOC representative.
Heraskevych, who is his country’s flag bearer at the Games, said Toshio Tsurunaga, the International Olympic Committee representative in charge of communications between athletes, national Olympic committees and the IOC, had gone to the Athletes’ Village to inform him.
“He said it’s because of Rule 50,” Heraskevych told Reuters. Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
The decision to wear the helmet in Milan earned praise from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Writing on Telegram, Zelenskiy thanked Heraskevych “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle.
