A Ukrainian skeleton racer on Monday said he had been blocked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from using a helmet commemorating athletes killed during the war in Ukraine. Vladyslav Heraskevych said the helmet features images of around half a dozen athletes who were killed in Russian attacks.
A Ukrainian skeleton racer on Monday said he had been blocked by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from using a helmet commemorating athletes killed during the war in Ukraine.
Vladyslav Heraskevych said the helmet features images of around half a dozen athletes who were killed in Russian attacks. The design was intended as a tribute to sports colleagues who died during the war.
Heraskevych, 27, wore the helmet during official training at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo on Monday. It remains unclear whether he will be allowed to use it in competition later this week.
In a video posted on Instagram, Heraskevych said a representative of the IOC, responsible for communication with athletes and national Olympic committees, told him he was not permitted to use the helmet in training or competition.
He said he hoped the decision reflected the view of an individual official rather than the IOC as a whole.
"A decision that simply breaks my heart," Heraskevych wrote.
He said an official request would now be submitted to the IOC, according to English subtitles in the video.
Asked for comment, the IOC told dpa it had not yet received a formal request from Ukraine's national Olympic committee to approve the helmet. Once such a request is submitted, it would be reviewed, the IOC said.
Under its statutes, the IOC bans political messages.
Category: General Sports
