"A Ukrainian skeleton racer has accused the International Olympic Committee of betrayal after it banned his racing helmet, which showed images of athletes and his friends that were killed following Russia's invasion, from the Winter Olympics. On Tuesday morning, Ukraine launched an appeal against the decision, arguing that Vladyslav Heraskevych should be allowed to use his helmet of memory, showing the weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov at the Winter Olympics."
"A decision that simply breaks my heart, he wrote. The feeling that 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. Heraskevych, Ukraine's first skeleton athlete, also posted a picture of him holding up a No War in Ukraine sign at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, days before Russia's 2022 invasion of the country."
"Also over these four years, the IOC has changed dramatically. Back then, in that action, they saw a call for peace and did not apply any sanctions against me. Now, at the Olympics, we have already seen a large number of Russian flags in the stands, on the helmet of one of the athletes and for the IOC, this is not a violation."
Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukraine's first skeleton athlete, wore a racing helmet showing Alina Peregudova, Pavlo Ishchenko and Oleksiy Loginov, who were killed after Russia's invasion. The International Olympic Committee banned the helmet from the Winter Olympics. Ukraine launched an appeal seeking permission to use the helmet of memory. Heraskevych posted that the decision "breaks my heart" and accused the IOC of betraying athletes who cannot return to the arena. He recalled previously holding a "No War in Ukraine" sign at Beijing 2022 without sanction and cited perceived inconsistency over allowed Russian flags. He seeks a fair final decision.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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