Ukrainian Star 'Banned' from Wearing War Tribute Helmet at Winter Olympics
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has been formally informed by the International Olympic Committee that a helmet he intended to wear at the Milano Cortina Games, featuring images of compatriots killed during the ongoing war, violates strict rules prohibiting political statements and cannot be used in competition. The helmet, which depicts several athletes who perished in the conflict—some of whom were personal friends of Heraskevych—is now expected to be shelved for the duration of the Games.
Rule 50 Cited as Reason for Ban
Heraskevych, who serves as Ukraine's flag bearer at the Winter Olympics, had been using the distinctive helmet during training sessions. He was reportedly informed of the prohibition by Toshio Tsurunaga, an IOC representative responsible for communications with athletes, during a visit to the Athletes' Village. Heraskevych told Reuters that Tsurunaga cited "Rule 50" as the basis for the decision.
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter explicitly states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." This regulation has been consistently enforced by the IOC to maintain what it describes as the political neutrality of the Games.
Zelenskiy's Praise and Ukraine's Response
The decision by Heraskevych to wear the helmet in Milan had previously garnered significant praise from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Writing on Telegram, President Zelenskiy thanked the athlete "for reminding the world of the price of our struggle." He emphasized that "this truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or called a 'political act at a sporting event'. It is a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is."
Zelenskiy further articulated that such reminders underscore "the global role of sports and the historic mission of the Olympic movement—it’s all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine remains faithful to this. Russia proves otherwise." Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and the conflict continues to shape international relations and sporting events.
IOC's Official Position and Lack of Request
Earlier on Monday, the IOC stated that it had not received any official request from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee to use the helmet in competition, which commences on 12 February. An IOC spokesperson clarified, "To date, the IOC has not received any request from the NOC (National Olympic Committee) for the athlete to wear the helmet in the competition. Once a submission is made, the IOC will look at the request."
Heraskevych revealed to Reuters that the helmet depicted teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov, and dancer Daria Kurdel—all individuals who lost their lives during the war.
Heraskevych's Previous Activism and Current Stance
Heraskevych, who held up a "No War in Ukraine" sign at the Beijing 2022 Olympics just days before Russia's invasion, had expressed his intention to respect Olympic rules prohibiting political demonstrations at venues while still ensuring that Ukraine's plight remained visible during the Games. This balancing act reflects the complex intersection of sports and politics on the global stage.
Context of Russian and Belarusian Athletes
Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were largely barred from international sport, but the IOC has since supported their gradual return under strict, neutral conditions. Both Moscow and Minsk maintain that sport should remain separate from international conflicts, a stance that contrasts sharply with Ukraine's efforts to highlight the human cost of the war through symbols like Heraskevych's helmet.
Historical Precedents of Olympic Protests
There have been numerous incidents over the years where athletes have protested on the field of play or on the medals podium, often facing significant consequences. The most famous case dates back to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City when U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists during the 200 metres medal ceremony to protest racial injustice in the United States. That led to their expulsion from the Games, although Smith retained his gold medal and Carlos his bronze.
More recently, at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash, a member of the refugee Olympic team, was disqualified after wearing a cape with the slogan "Free Afghan Women" during a pre-qualifying competition. However, there have also been cases where athletes and teams escaped punishment when their action was not deemed explicitly political.
For instance, Australia's women's soccer team unfurled a flag of the first peoples of Australia at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but, while it was not one of the recognised flags of participating nations at the Games, the team were not sanctioned. Similarly, two Chinese cycling medallists who wore badges featuring the head of their country's former leader Mao Zedong on the Tokyo Olympics podium escaped with only a warning, highlighting the nuanced and sometimes inconsistent application of Rule 50.
