Skeleton Athlete Requires ‘No Battle in Ukraine’ After Olympic Run

A Ukrainian skeleton athlete flashed a small signal that learn “ No Battle in Ukraine ” to the cameras as he completed a run on the Beijing Olympics on Friday night time.

Vladyslav Heraskevych’s signal was printed on a blue-and-yellow piece of paper, matching the colours of his nation’s flag. He didn’t show the signal after his second run of the night time, which was his fourth and last run of the Olympics.

“It’s my place. Like every regular individuals, I don’t need struggle,” Heraskevych stated after he completed competing. “I would like peace in my nation, and I would like peace on the planet. It’s my place, so I battle for that. I battle for peace.”

The gesture comes as Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops close to Ukraine, stoking fears within the West that Moscow is planning an invasion. Russia insists it has no such plans however doesn’t need Ukraine and different former Soviet international locations to be allowed to affix the western NATO alliance.

“In Ukraine, it’s actually nervous now,” Heraskevych stated. “Plenty of information about weapons, about weapons, what’s to come back in Ukraine, about some armies round Ukraine. It’s not OK. Not within the twenty first century. So I made a decision, earlier than the Olympics, that I’d present my place to the world.”

It’s doable that the Worldwide Olympic Committee might contemplate Heraskevych’s act a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Constitution. That rule, partly, states that “no form of demonstration or political, spiritual or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic websites, venues or different areas.”

However it additionally might fall right into a grey space because the signal didn’t explicitly disrespect an opponent or criticize any political goal. Heraskevych stated he was not involved about any doable repercussions.

“I hope the Olympics will (help) me on this state of affairs. No one needs struggle,” Heraskevych stated.

The IOC relaxed its rule in opposition to protests earlier than the Tokyo Video games, permitting athletes to precise themselves politically earlier than competitions begin — however Heraskevych’s motion would possible not be coated by that as a result of it occurred on the end line. Nonetheless, the IOC doesn’t at all times select to deliver a disciplinary case.

“I hope it helps … make peace in our nation,” stated Heraskevych, who was not a medal contender.