Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics because of banned helmet, AP explains скачать в хорошем качестве

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics because of banned helmet, AP explains

(12 Feb 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 10 February 2026 ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 1. Various of Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych, showing helmet ASSOCIATED PRESS Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 10 February 2026 2. STILL of Heraskevych during training run at Milano Cortina (AP photo by Alessandro Tarantino/ID: 26040357916489) 3. STILL of Heraskevych during training run at Milano Cortina (AP photo by Aljaz Rahi/ID: 26041482877382) ASSOCIATED PRESS Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - 12 February 2026 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press: "Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, wanted to wear a helmet that pays tribute to athletes and coaches from his country who died as a result of Russia's invasion. The International Olympic Committee sounded like it appreciated his sentiment. IOC President Kirsty Coventry said she had no problem with his message. So why is he out of the Milan Cortina Olympics? Because the IOC also thought he went too far. Heraskevych could have been a medal contender here in Cortina in the men's skeleton race, but he was disqualified from his event about 45 minutes before it started on Thursday, because he wanted to wear a helmet showing the faces of more than 20 victims. The issue wasn't that he made a political statement. The issue for the IOC was that it decided Heraskevych was in violation of the rule banning athletes from certain types of expression on the field of play. And this isn't a new issue for IOC either. In Paris 2024, a competitor wore a cape that said free Afghan women on it, she was disqualified. The most famous example is likely 1968 when US sprinters Tommy Smith and John Carlos were kicked out of the Mexico City Games for raising their fist in a black power salute on the medal stand. The IOC is letting Heraskevych stay in these Games. He keeps his credential, he's still an Olympian, he just can't compete in Italy this week. The IOC doesn't want every athlete thinking they can speak out on whatever topic they want, however they want. They say the athletes have decided they want to compete free of any controversy on the field of play. But this time, it feels like the controversy got bigger because Heraskevych won't be racing." 5. Close of Heraskevych's helmet 6. Heraskevych shaking hands with officials 7. Close of Heraskevych's Olympic badge 8. Heraskevych signing Ukrainian flag STORYLINE: Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred from racing at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee to not use a helmet that honors more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded his country four years ago. The decision came roughly 45 minutes before the start of the competition and ended a three-day saga where Heraskevych knew he was risking being pulled from the Games by wearing the helmet, one that the IOC says breaks rules against making statements on the field of play. The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds discussed the reasoning behind the IOC's decision and previous precedents. The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said Heraskevych's decision to wear the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.” He wore the helmet in training, but the IOC asked him to wear a different helmet in races. It offered concessions, such as wearing a black armband or letting him display the helmet once he was off the ice. Heraskevych filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the race went on without him. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...