The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed its desire for Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych to race as it seeks to resolve the issue over his helmet featuring pictures of people who have been killed in the war with Russia.
The governing body maintains that the helmet design breaches Olympic regulations.
Heraskevych has worn the controversial headgear during practice sessions at the Games.
The standoff comes just one day before the skeleton event is scheduled to begin on Thursday, with neither side appearing willing to back down from their respective positions.
As an alternative, the IOC has proposed that Heraskevych wear a black armband during competition as a permitted tribute.
Despite this offer, the Ukrainian athlete made clear on Tuesday that he has no intention of changing his stance.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams confirmed the IOC remains in discussion with Heraskevych.
He declined to outline what penalties might be imposed should Heraskevych proceed with wearing the helmet during Thursday’s races.
The International Olympic Committee has expressed its desire for Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych to race
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REUTERS
Adams said: “I don’t think it is helpful to look at hypotheticals, particularly since we are trying to get him to a place where he takes part.
“We want him to compete so it is not helpful. But there are rules and regulations, without labouring the point, they are rules and regulations athletes themselves want us to enforce. They will ultimately be enforced.
“It would be an IOC matter.”
“We will contact the athlete today and we will reiterate the many, many opportunities he has to express his grief.”
The standoff comes just one day before the skeleton event is scheduled to begin on Thursday
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REUTERS
The Ukrainian athlete made clear on Tuesday that he has no intention of changing his stance
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REUTERS
He added: “As we have discussed before, he can do so on social media, in press conferences and mixed zone.
“We will try to talk to him about that, try to convince him. We want him to compete and have his moment, that’s very important to us.
“We want every athlete to have their moment.
“The guidelines were agreed by 4,500 athletes and the input of many our of athletes’ commissions, that is what they want.
IOC spokesman Mark Adams confirmed the IOC remains in discussion with Heraskevych
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REUTERS
The spokesman continued: “They want that specific moment on the field of play to be free from any distraction.
“We feel his grief and want him to express it, but let me be clear, it is not the message (that’s the issue), it is the place that counts.
“That is it for us and it’s the message the athletes have reiterated to us time and again. There are 130 conflicts in the world, and we cannot have them all featured, however terrible, in the field of play during the competition.
“We beg him, we want him to compete.”
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