Скачать или смотреть Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics because of banned helmet, AP Explains

(12 Feb 2026)
RESRICTION SUMMARY:

++THUMBNAIL: Vladyslav Heraskevych holding his crash helmet as he stands outside the sliding center at the 2026 Winter Olympics (AP Photo shot by Alessandra Tarantino; ID: 26043525434694)++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - 12 February 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Tim Reynolds, The Associated Press:
++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++
"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 the 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."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 10 February 2026
2. Various of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych showing helmet with images of killed Ukrainian athletes ++NIGHT SHOTS++
3. STILL of Heraskevych arriving at the finish during a men's skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics (AP Photo shot by Alessandra Tarantino; ID: 26043336800817)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 11 February 2026
4. STILL of Heraskevych training for the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics (AP Photo shot by Aijaz Rahi; ID: 26043295387638)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 10 February 2026
5. STILL of Heraskevych arriving at the finish during a men's skeleton training session (AP Photo shot by Alessandra Tarantino; ID: 26041519187910)
6. STILL of Heraskevych's helmet (AP Photo shot by Alessandra Tarantino; ID: 26043327084137)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Paris - 9 August 2024
7. STILL of Refugee Team's Manizha Talash, known as Talash, wearing a cape which reads "free Afghan women" as she competes during the B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle at the breaking competition during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo shot by Abbie Parr; ID: 24222522234072)
8. STILL of Talash competing during the B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle of the breaking competition (AP Photo shot by Frank Franklin; ID: 24222513843000)

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Mexico City - 16 October 1968

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - 12 February 2026
11. Close of Heraskevych's helmet
12. Heraskevych shaking hands with officials


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