"A Ukrainian athlete will not compete in the Olympics after his helmet that pays tribute to countrymen and women killed in the war with Russia was banned. Vladyslav Heraskevych, a skeleton athlete, rejected a final attempt by the International Olympic Committee to reach a compromise Thursday after the IOC informed him the helmet was in violation of a policy that prohibits making statements in the field of play."
"IOC President Kirsty Coventry met with Heraskevych on Thursday morning and was moved to tears after Heraskevych stood firm. As you've all seen over the last few days, we've allowed for Vladyslav to use his helmet in training, Coventry said. No one, no one especially me is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message. It's a message of remembrance. It's a message of memory and no one is disagreeing with that."
"Heraskevych said he believes the IOC and International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation both know his memory helmet was not in violation of regulations. He intends to appeal the ruling, but his race began Thursday, and the final runs are scheduled to take place Friday. For me, the sacrifice of the people depicted on the helmet means more than any medal ever could because they gave the most precious thing they had, Heraskevych wrote. And simple respect toward them is exactly what I want to"
Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from competing after the International Olympic Committee ruled his helmet honoring more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war violated a policy prohibiting statements in the field of play. He rejected an IOC compromise that would have allowed the helmet only in training and proposed wearing a black armband during competition. IOC President Kirsty Coventry met him and acknowledged the helmet's messaging as remembrance while explaining the field-of-play restriction. Heraskevych intends to appeal the ruling but missed competition runs as the race proceeded. He said the sacrifice of those depicted means more than any medal.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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