Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych has been barred from competing in the Winter Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for attempting to wear a helmet featuring images of 24 deceased Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives due to Russia’s invasion. Heraskevych, a skeleton pilot, was informed that he could not wear the helmet but still wore it during a training session. Despite his appeal to the IOC, they deemed the helmet a political statement and disqualified him, revoking his Olympics accreditation.

Heraskevych insisted that not wearing the helmet would be a betrayal to the athletes and plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His father and coach, Mykhailo, was visibly upset upon hearing the news at the venue. The IOC stated that their decision was based on Heraskevych’s refusal to adhere to their guidelines on athlete expression.

The IOC engaged in several discussions with Heraskevych, including a meeting with IOC president Kirsty Coventry, in an attempt to find a compromise. Coventry, a Zimbabwean politician, made a special trip to Cortina to have a face-to-face discussion with Heraskevych. Despite expressing support for the message on the helmet, Coventry emphasized the importance of finding a solution that aligns with the rules of competition.

With competition about to begin, Heraskevych called on the IOC to lift his ban and issue an apology, denying any intention to create a scandal. He highlighted the distraction caused by the controversy from the athletes and the competitions themselves. However, the IOC stood firm on their decision, stating that mourning is expressed differently worldwide.

In other news, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering significant savings and an increased number of live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League. Sky will broadcast over 200 live Premier League games this season, showcasing an increase in coverage compared to previous seasons.