Is banned Olympic 'helmet of remembrance' political?

"What is his dispute with the IOC about? Heraskevych wants to wear his "helmet of remembrance" not only in training but also during the Olympic race in Cortina. It features images of Ukrainian athletes who were killed during Russia's war on Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers the helmet a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states: "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.""

"In 2020, the IOC Athletes' Commission published guidelines on how to implement this rule. According to these guidelines, athletes should only be allowed to express political views during the Olympic Games at press conferences, in interviews in the mixed zones, at team meetings, on internet platforms or through media outlets. IOC spokesman Mark Adams told a press conference this week: "There are 130 conflicts going on in the world. We cannot have 130 different conflicts featured, however terrible they are, during the""

"In Pyeongchang in 2018, the Kyiv native became the first Ukrainian to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics. Heraskevych also competed in Beijing in 2022. After the third of four runs there, he held up a sign with the English inscription "No war in Ukraine" for the cameras at the finish line of the run. Thirteen days later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine."

Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Kyiv native, became the first Ukrainian to compete in skeleton at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018 and also raced in Beijing 2022. After a run in Beijing he displayed a "No war in Ukraine" sign; Russia launched a full-scale invasion 13 days later. He has used his sport to raise awareness of Ukrainian suffering and to call for stricter sanctions on Russian sports. He served as one of Ukraine's flag bearers at the Milano Cortina opening. Heraskevych seeks to wear a "helmet of remembrance" depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war, which the IOC deems a Rule 50 violation.

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