Heraskevych held up an indication with a Ukrainian flag and the message “No Struggle in Ukraine” after finishing a run within the skeleton pageant on Friday on the Beijing Video games. The message got here in opposition to the backdrop of a Russian army build-up close to the rustic’s border with Ukraine.
“The Olympic Group of Ukraine … expresses a unanimous name for peace along with (our) local nation,” the Ukrainian Olympic Committee wrote on social media. “Being hundreds of kilometers clear of the Motherland, mentally we’re with our households and pals.” The commentary doesn’t point out Russia or the army state of affairs.
The Global Olympic Committee bans maximum protest gestures on the Video games. However the Olympic frame isn’t taking motion in opposition to Heraskevych as a result of “‘No battle’ is a message we will all relate to,” mentioned Christophe Dubi, the chief director of the Olympic Video games.
That doesn’t imply the IOC desires different athletes to sign up for in, then again.
“All of us need peace, obviously,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams mentioned Sunday. “Athletes themselves have agreed that the sphere of play and the rostrum isn’t where for any more or less commentary as a result of we want to stay politically impartial … The message used to be understood. It (the signal) wasn’t repeated and I believe we will transfer on.” No Ukrainian athletes have up to now adopted Heraskevych’s lead via protesting in pageant.