IOC bans Ukrainian from wearing war tribute helmet at Winter Olympics

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will not be allowed to wear a helmet commemorating those killed in the war with Russia

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from wearing his tribute helmet (AFP via Getty Images)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that it will not allow Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych to wear a helmet honouring those killed in the war with Russia during the skeleton competition at the Winter Olympics, while announcing he may wear a black armband as a “compromise”.

Heraskevych said in a video on social media on Monday night that he was preparing an official request to compete in the helmet, after being informed of the ban, but that has now been denied. The 27-year-old has been training in Italy while wearing headgear depicting Ukrainian athletes who have been killed since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022.

(REUTERS)

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a news conference in Milan-Cortina that Heraskevych’s helmet contravened Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states that no form of demonstration or political, religious or racial issues can be raised on fields of play or podiums, and confirmed Heraskevych and his team were informed of this during an informal meeting on Monday night.

“The IOC fully understands the desire of athletes to remember friends and colleagues who have lost their lives in that conflict, and in many, many other difficult conflicts around the world,” Adams said on Tuesday.

“It's fundamental that there are equal rights for all athletes and that the games need to be separated not just from political and religious, but from all types of interference so that all the athletes competing can concentrate on their performance.

“What we said is that this helmet contravenes the guidelines. But that being said, after the meeting, we also reiterated once again that we will in this case, as we do now more often, make an exception to the guidelines to allow him to wear a black armband during competition.”

Mark Adams, IOC Spokesperson, speaks at a press conference (Getty Images)

In his post on social media, Heraskevych said the decision to ban his helmet in competitions “breaks my heart” and said he hoped for a “fair” final decision from the IOC. He added: “The IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honoured on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again.”

After the ban was confirmed, Heraskevych also told Reuters: "It's unfair treatment. I don’t see any violation of rule 50. It is not discrimination propaganda, it is not political propaganda.”

Speaking at a press conference later on Tuesday, Heraskevych revealed he had made the decision to defy the IOC and race in the helmet on Thursday.

“Because of their (the dead athletes') sacrifice, we are able to compete here as a team. I will not betray them,” he said.

“I believe they deserve to be with me on competition day. I used it yesterday (at training), I used it today (at training), I will use it tomorrow and I will use it on race day.”

Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko backed the athlete, calling the IOC's decision “profoundly wrong”.

"More than 650 Ukrainian athletes will never stand on an Olympic stage. They were killed by Russians," Svyrydenko said in a post on X.

"Against this reality, the decision to ban the helmet of our athlete... which commemorates some of our fallen is profoundly wrong. Remembering the dead is not politics. It is dignity.

"The IOC should honour those who can no longer compete, not silence their memory.”

The helmet depicts various athletes killed in the war - some of whom were Heraskevych's friends. They include teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov and dancer Daria Kurdel.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych holds his helmet with images of compatriots killed during the war (REUTERS)

Heraskevych will return to training on Tuesday. His first day of competition is on Thursday, where he will be allowed to wear a black armband.

“I think what we've tried to do is to address his desires with compassion and understanding,” Adams said. “He has expressed himself on social media and in the training. We will not stop him expressing himself in press conference and in the mixed zone. We feel that this is a good compromise in the situation.”

Includes reporting from Reuters