A Ukrainian minister known as an athlete who has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics a “hero”.
Zelensky has criticised the IOC’s choice (Picture: Getty)
Volodymyr Zelensky has lashed out on the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC)’s choice to disqualify a Ukrainian athlete from the Winter Olympics over his alternative of helmet. The Ukrainian President took to X on Thursday to answer to related criticism of the IOC from TV host and journalist Piers Morgan.
Mr Zelensky wrote on X, sharing Piers Morgan’s message: “Thanks for taking a principled stance, Piers. The IOC’s choice is certainly morally appalling.” Mr Morgan had written: “Disgusting choice. Disgrace on the Winter Olympic chiefs.” Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych’s helmet was emblazoned with the faces of a number of Ukrainian athletes who had been killed because of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Categorical has contacted the IOC for remark.
On Wednesday, Mr Heraskevych vowed to put on what was dubbed a ‘helmet of reminiscence’ as an indication of respect for fallen Ukrainian athletes – despite the fact that the IOC had warned him that doing so would result in him being disqualified.
The athlete accused the Worldwide Olympic Committee of doing Russia’s propaganda for them after he was barred from racing within the Winter Video games.
He wore the helmet in all of his coaching runs main as much as the start of the competitors. He was knowledgeable by the IOC the helmet “doesn’t comply” with the Olympic constitution.
Talking on his ban he mentioned: “I really feel vacancy. Yesterday was superb coaching, earlier than yesterday was additionally superb coaching. I may very well be among the many medallists on this occasion however all of a sudden due to some interpretation of the foundations that we don’t agree with, I’m not capable of compete whereas different athletes in the identical scenario had been capable of compete and so they did not face any sanctions.
On Tuesday, the IOC introduced a “compromise” that will permit Heraskevych to put on a black armband and converse to the press fairly than donning hte helmet in the course of the competitors. He mentioned: “He can, and we’d encourage him, to specific his grief, however let me be clear. It’s not the message, it’s the place that counts. There are 130 conflicts occurring on the earth. We can not have 130 completely different conflicts featured, nevertheless horrible they’re, in the course of the area of play, in the course of the precise competitors.”
In response Heraskevych mentioned he wouldn’t stand down, including that he won’t “betray” his nation. “I can’t betray these athletes. These athletes sacrificed their lives, and due to this sacrifice, I’m able to be right here, so I can’t betray them,” he mentioned.
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