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*** Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his insistence on wearing *** helmet that pays tribute to athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia. Skeleton racer Vladislav Harraskevich was the Ukrainian flag bearer at the opening ceremony. He’s *** two-time Olympian. Conversations had been ongoing with the IOC about his helmet, trying to find common ground. The 2 seven-year-old was allowed to wear it in practice runs, but IOC president Christy Coventry saying he’d be violating rules. Prohibiting any kind of political statement if you wore it during competition. We spoke with fans from several nations about this situation. The Olympics is about sport, and that’s the only reason why you’re here. I think all of us kind of sympathize with that, but every single person that’s in the Olympics all have to follow the same exact rules. So if they allow one person to do it, then they have to allow everybody to be able to make political statements. But I think it’s fair that they can do afterwards. They can say anything they want in their press conferences and they can say anything they want on social media. But uh so if they deem that *** political statement, then I think it’s fair that they had to do what they had to do to suspend him. Harriskevich was disqualified shortly before racing after he met with Coventry for about 10 minutes. They both left that meeting visibly upset that he would not be taking part in the Olympics. Coventry saying. She really wanted to see him race and she was talking to him not so much as IOC president, but as an athlete, explaining they have rules in place to try to be fair. In *** social media post, Vladislav wrote, This is the price of our dignity at the Milan Cortina Olympics. I’m Fletcher Mackall.
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Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics in Italy for wearing a helmet that paid tribute to athletes and coaches killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, causing an emotional reaction from both him and International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.Heraskevych, who was the Ukrainian flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony and a two-time Olympian before these games, had been in ongoing discussions with the IOC about his helmet, seeking common ground. Although he was allowed to wear the helmet during practice runs, Coventry said he would be violating rules prohibiting political statements by competitors during competition.Fans from several nations shared their views on the situation. A German Olympics tourist said, “Yes, I think so. I think they made the right decision. Olympic is about sport and that’s the only reason why you are here.” An American Olympic tourist added, “I think all of us kind of sympathize with that, but every single person that’s in the Olympics all have to follow the same exact rules. So, if they allow one person to do it, then they have to allow everyone to be able to make political statements. But I think it’s fair that they can do, afterward they can say anything they want in their press conferences, and they can say anything they want on social media. But if they deem that a political statement, then I think it’s fair that they had to do what they had to do to suspend them.”Heraskevych was disqualified shortly before racing after a 10-minute meeting with Coventry. Both left the meeting visibly upset that he would not be racing. Coventry said, “I really wanted to see him race today. It’s been an emotional morning. So, yeah.” She added, “He is an athlete, and for me, I was not speaking to him in that room as a president. I was speaking to him as an athlete. We have these rules in place to try and be fair.”In a social media post, Heraskevych wrote, “This is the price of our dignity.”
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics in Italy for wearing a helmet that paid tribute to athletes and coaches killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, causing an emotional reaction from both him and International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.
Heraskevych, who was the Ukrainian flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony and a two-time Olympian before these games, had been in ongoing discussions with the IOC about his helmet, seeking common ground. Although he was allowed to wear the helmet during practice runs, Coventry said he would be violating rules prohibiting political statements by competitors during competition.
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Fans from several nations shared their views on the situation. A German Olympics tourist said, “Yes, I think so. I think they made the right decision. Olympic is about sport and that’s the only reason why you are here.”
An American Olympic tourist added, “I think all of us kind of sympathize with that, but every single person that’s in the Olympics all have to follow the same exact rules. So, if they allow one person to do it, then they have to allow everyone to be able to make political statements. But I think it’s fair that they can do, afterward they can say anything they want in their press conferences, and they can say anything they want on social media. But if they deem that a political statement, then I think it’s fair that they had to do what they had to do to suspend them.”
Heraskevych was disqualified shortly before racing after a 10-minute meeting with Coventry. Both left the meeting visibly upset that he would not be racing. Coventry said, “I really wanted to see him race today. It’s been an emotional morning. So, yeah.”
She added, “He is an athlete, and for me, I was not speaking to him in that room as a president. I was speaking to him as an athlete. We have these rules in place to try and be fair.”
In a social media post, Heraskevych wrote, “This is the price of our dignity.”
