IOC bans another Ukrainian athlete from wearing helmet with slogan at Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has continued to put pressure on Ukrainian athletes competing at the 2026 Olympic Games.

Source: Suspilne Sport, a Ukrainian sports TV channel

Details: Oleh Handei, a short-track speed skater, is the third athlete to be banned from wearing a helmet with a slogan while competing.

Quote from Handei: "I have a line from Lina Kostenko on my helmet: 'Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat'. They banned it, saying it is a political slogan, that it is about the war, that it is not allowed.

I translated it word for word for them. No, it is not a political slogan. These are simply inspirational words for me, for my team and for the country. Why not? They said no, it is political and it is propaganda." [Lina Kostenko is a famous Ukrainian poet, journalist, writer, publisher and former Soviet dissident.]

More details: Handei was one of two Ukrainian short-track skaters to secure a quota place for the 2026 Olympic Games. After four stages of the World Tour, he qualified to compete in two events in Italy: the 500 metres and the 1,500 metres.

Background:

• The International Olympic Committee has barred Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in a special helmet featuring portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia. He wore the helmet during his first training sessions at the 2026 Games. The IOC suggested that he wear a black armband as an alternative.
• The IOC later also banned freestyle skier Kateryna Kotsar, who represents Ukraine, from wearing a helmet with the words "Be brave like Ukrainians".

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