Olympic Officials Ban Ukrainian’s Helmet Honoring War Dead

Olympic officials said Vladyslav Heraskevych could not wear a helmet bearing images of Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia, ruling it a violation of the Games’ ban on political speech. The International Olympic Committee allowed him to wear a plain black armband instead.

Heraskevych, 27, who is competing in the skeleton, posted a video saying he had worn the “remembrance helmet” in a training session in Cortina d’Ampezzo and was told afterwards by an I.O.C. representative that he could not wear it in official training or competition.

He said the helmet featured photographs of Ukrainian athletes who have died in the war, some of whom were friends, and added, “Despite this, we do not give up. We continue the fight.” Mark Adams, an I.O.C. spokesman, said athletes could speak freely on social media or in public appearances, but Olympic rules ban political speech during official training and competitions, and the Olympic Charter forbids demonstrations or political propaganda in Olympic sites.

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