Ukrainian Athlete Tests the Olympic Rules on Free Speech
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American athletes have spoken out this week on ICE’s actions in Minnesota, joining a long tradition of Team USA using their Olympic platform to speak out.
A Ukrainian skeleton racer has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his “helmet of remembrance."
This weekend’s competitions drew the attention of millions of viewers. But sporting events have long been sites for political speech, protest and activism dating back decades.
The ejection of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Winter Games over his "helmet of remembrance" has put the spotlight on rules over where athletes are not allowed to express themselves on political matters at the Olympics.
It is fair to point out that Vladyslav Heraskevych walked away from the Milan Cortina Olympic Games on Thursday with much more notoriety than he walked into them with, or likely would have earned
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych said on Monday a helmet he has used in training at the Milan Cortina Games with images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine cannot be used in Olympic competition after being told by the IOC that it violates a rule on political statements.