Controversies At the 2026 Winter Olympics
By Bob Small
The 2026 Winter Olympics have been at the center of more contentious issues than the usual Figure Skating judging controversy.
Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskeyvech had a “helmet of remembrance” depicting athletes killed since Russia invaded his home country.” His accreditation was removed shortly before he was due to compete. His response was “This is the price of our dignity.”
The IOC (International OlympicCommittee) rule 50 from 1975 says, in part that prohibited protests include “gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling”. Heraskeyvich cited previous protests by Israeli skeleton racer Jared Firestone and US skater Maxim Naumov who did similar actions without repercussions. Ukrainian luger Olena Smaha had these words on her glove “Remembrance is not a violation”.
Meanwhile, the IOC chose to remember a very dark part of their past. The Berlin Games of 1936 are remembered for many events. On the American side, two racers who ran and won gold medals were Afro Americans Jessie Owens and Ralph Metcalfe. Meanwhile Jewish racers Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller were replaced by the US and did not compete. Of course, there would not be another Olympics until the Olympics resumed in 1948. In 1998, almost 60 years after these games, the Olympics acknowledged that both these men were victims of antisemitism. Since the Olympics saw fit to issue a 1936 T-shirt, could they not have also seen fit to honor all four of the above athletes on these T-shirts? Just asking.
Shakhtar Dometsk Soccer Club donated the value of a gold medal to Heraskeyvech’s foundation as a show of support.
Wait, there’s more. Russian athletes were awarded six slots to compete under their own flag, along with four Belarusian athletes. This led to an Ukrainian boycott Paralympics after Russian . “The European commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport, Glenn Micallef, “ also joined in the boycott.
There was also the usual figure skating judging controversy, but that is one of the lesser headlines on this year’s festivities.
See also.
OC Faces Criticism Over 1936 Berlin Games T-Shirt After …
