The Ukrainian government sharply condemned the decision of the International Olympic Committee, which barred skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from participating in the competitions in Milan on February 12. The reason for the disqualification was the athlete’s desire to honor the memory of Ukrainian athletes who died during the war.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Reactions from Ukrainian Ministers
Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny stated that the actions of the IOC are an obvious mistake that needs to be corrected within the legal framework. He emphasized that this story will continue and supported Heraskevych for his dignified stance.
“We will correct this mistake within the legal framework. Vladyslav, you acted with dignity! This story will definitely have a continuation,” added Bidny.
Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha emphasized that Heraskevych’s intention to honor the fallen did not violate Olympic rules. He sharply criticized the IOC for losing its reputation and its unwillingness to confront the Russian Federation, which has repeatedly initiated military invasions during the Olympics over the past 30 years. According to Sybiha, the committee not only intimidated Ukrainian athletes but also showed disrespect by trying to silence discussions about the war in Ukraine.
Reasons for the Ban and the Athlete’s Position
On February 12, the IOC announced the disqualification of Vladyslav Heraskevych from the 2026 Winter Olympics due to his intention to wear a helmet featuring portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes. It was officially stated that this does not comply with the rules regarding the expression of views. However, the committee allowed the wearing of a black ribbon in mourning but did not explain how the images on the helmet violate the regulations.
Vladyslav Heraskevych himself emphasized that black armbands are not enough to honor all the fallen Ukrainian athletes. He acknowledged the risk of disqualification but did not abandon the idea of competing in a memorial helmet, highlighting the importance of honoring the victims of the war.