IOC allows Ukrainian athlete to wear black armband at Olympics for war dead

The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) said a Ukrainian skeleton racer could wear a black armband at the Winter Olympics but confirmed it had banned his helmet that features Ukrainian sportspeople killed in the war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had defended Vladyslav Heraskevych’s right to wear the helmet, which carries pictures of dead Ukrainian sportsmen and women killed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, at the Milan-Cortina Games.

IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) the helmet contravened guidelines about political symbols at the Olympics but said it would “make an exception to the guidelines to allow him to wear a black armband during competition to make that commemoration”.

Gestures of a political nature during competition have been forbidden since 2021 under article 50 of the Olympic Charter, although athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media.

Mr. Adams added: “I think what we’ve tried to do is to address his desires with compassion and understanding.

“We will not stop him expressing himself in press conferences, as he leaves competition, in the mixed zone (where competitors talk to journalists) and elsewhere, and we feel that this is a good compromise in the situation.”

Mr. Heraskevych, who was one of Ukraine’s two flag bearers in the opening ceremony of the Games, said the decision to ban his helmet “simply breaks my heart”.

Mr. Zelenskyy had thanked Mr. Heraskevych “for reminding the world of the price of our struggle”.

“This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate or called a ‘political demonstration at a sporting event.’ It is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is,” the president added.

Ukrainian Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi told AFP this month that Russia has killed “more than 650 athletes and coaches” since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, according to the latest data.