Dhe International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stopped Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladislav Heraskevich from showing again his sign that reads “No war in Ukraine” after the third run on Friday . “When that happened, we immediately spoke to the team, and then we spoke to the athlete,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams on Sunday at the Olympic organizers’ press conference in Beijing.
“We explained the situation to him, and on his last run he didn’t have that (sign; editor’s note) with him. He got that. We all want peace. But we all agree that the competition venue is not a place for a political statement because we have to remain politically neutral.” Heraskevich had said to his sign after the competition: “That is my position, like any normal person I do not want a war , I want peace in my homeland.”
The IOC said on Saturday that it would not initiate proceedings against the Ukrainian. Rule 50.2 prohibits political statements by athletes in competition. IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi said on Sunday that “no war” is a message “we can all relate to. It’s incredibly moving.”
