The Olympic spirit is defined by more than just winning

Here’s a curious one. 

A Ukrainian skeleton athlete was banned from Winter Olympic competition on Thursday because he had decorated his helmet with images of  compatriots killed by Russia's undeclared war of aggression against Ukraine.

Vladyslav Heraskevych was removed from the starting list because the  jury of the International Bobsled  and Skeleton Federation ruled that the helmet he intended to wear violated the Olympic Charter  and the Guidelines on Athletic Expression. 

A compromise could not be agreed to, Heraskevych was disqualified, and has appealed.

I can understand the reason for the rules. The Olympics can't have the athletes - assembled  to show love among nations (which is why 10,000 condoms were handed out) - to splinter into feuding political factions. The Olympics is supposed to be a politics free zone.

The rules specifically prohibit making political demonstrations on the field of play or during medal ceremonies. The ban doesn’t always work. Americans of a certain age remember this from the 1968 Summer Games.

But, of course, the Olympics are not free from politics. Russia and Belarus are banned for the invasion of Ukraine and support for it.

That was a political decision made by the International Olympic Committee. The crowd made a political statement when it cheered loudest (second only to host country Italy) when Ukraine’s team entered the stadium

So why can’t Heraskevych make a political statement?

Well, the chiefs in charge offered him some alternatives. He was allowed to wear the helmet during training runs, and the IOC suggested he might wear a black mourners band. They eventually said they would allow him to carry it after the race and medal ceremony.

Heraskevych stood by his guns. He wanted to wear it in competition to honor his friends, and he was willing to pass up on his own shot at glory to do that.

I can’t help but respect that.