Ukrainian athlete decries IOC's 'shameful' decision to lift Russian Olympics suspension

Vladyslav Heraskevych doesn't require to vie at the Olympics alongside athletes from the rural area that's actively waging state of war against his place.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Tuesday, paving the way for Russians to compete at the 2028 Summer ‌Games in Los Angeles. It's not yet clear whether they will be allowed to display the Russian flag and colours, or play the national anthem.

The IOC suspended the ROC in October 2023 for recognizing regional Olympic councils in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, specifically Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The ROC has assured the IOC it is no longer controlling sports bodies in those regions.

IOC President Kirsty ​Coventry said Tuesday the IOC does not condone the war, but added: "We don't want to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their government."

Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton racer, is calling on national Olympic councils to stand together in opposition to the IOC's ruling, and for the Olympics host country to deny visas to Russian athletes. 

Heraskevych was, himself, banned from this year's Winter Olympic Games for wearing a helmet that featured images of Ukrainian war victims. Here is part of his conversation with As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. 

Vladyslav, what are the words you've been using to describe this decision by the IOC? 

I believe it's a shameful decision and it's absolutely not right to do it, especially if you're looking at what's going on in the latest weeks in Ukraine, in Kyiv. 

Just yesterday we had [a] day of mourning because ... People were killed in one of the Russian attacks. Today, we have a couple of air attacks and, again, a couple of people were killed because of these attacks. 

So it happens, literally, like, every day. And to see this news that Russians are welcomed back again into the Olympic family, it feels surreal. 

IOC President Kirsty Coventry said at a press conference yesterday: "We don't condone any wars, including this one. We will continue to support Ukraine like we have since this started." Do you feel supported? How do you square what she's saying there with the IOC's actions? 

I believe all this talk about solidarity …  is big hypocrisy from the IOC.

IOC provisionally lifts Russian Olympic Committee suspension

What is it like for you day-to-day ... Being in Kyiv? ... How do you stay safe?

When you have this shelling, you spend almost [the] whole night in shelter or in the parking underground or somewhere else where you can hide from the attacks.

If you talk about people who ... Their house has been destroyed or their family member's been killed, it's just another story. I think it's impossible to comprehend what's going on with their lives at the moment. 

Also, of course, a lot of [my] friends are fighting on the front line and we try to support them. But some of them also were killed. 

It is a very hard time and we all hope that it will end as soon as possible. 

Ukraine's sports minister is questioning why this rule change is happening now, saying: "Nothing changed. The situation became even worse." And you're detailing some of that. The IOC has said that this is the time that athletes would be qualifying, so this is why they're saying they're doing it now. Why do you think it's happening now?

It's hard to understand why now they're bringing back Russians, [or why] they lift sanctions from the Russian Olympic Committee. 

Because at the same time, Russian athletes, Russian sport officials, they're highly connected with the Russian government, with Russian propaganda. Some athletes are fighting. Some Russian athletes are fighting on the front lines. Some of them, they're involved in some activities with Ukrainian kidnapped kids. And at the same time, they also operating actively in occupied territories. 

To say that they're not guilty and that ... They should not be responsible for [the] actions of their governments ... I believe it's a lie. Because they're responsible. They take an active part. It's not that they're against it and they can do nothing. 

Do you think they have a choice there?

We have some examples of others who left their country and who are speaking ... Pretty open against their government. I believe they have a choice; they chose their side. 

What are your next steps? The IOC has made this decision. Can it be reversed? Will you be doing anything? Will you and others be pushing back? 

I believe now it's a great time to work, to co-operate, with different national Olympic committees from different countries, and also to stand strong against this decision. Because if we're able to get a majority of national Olympic committees, we are able to change this decision. 

I believe if countries do not accept these decisions, they are able to do visa bans for Russian athletes. And then, even if the IOC wants to have Russian athletes in competitions ... They cannot come to the country if they don't have a visa. So then, problem solved. 

Interview produced by Livia Dyring

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