The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday disqualified Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Geraskevich shortly before the competition, as he refused to change his helmet featuring images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who died in the war initiated by Russia, LETA reported citing AP.
The president of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, also arrived at the skeleton competition track.
The first run in the men's skeleton competition began at 10:30, with Latvian athlete Emil Indriksons also participating.
As previously reported, after the first training sessions, the IOC banned Geraskevich from using a helmet featuring images of deceased Ukrainians; however, on Wednesday, the athlete continued to compete in it. Later, the IOC stated that he would not be allowed to start in this helmet during the competition, but he would be permitted to wear a black armband.
The Olympic Games feature 13 athletes from the aggressor states of Russia and Belarus, who have been assigned the so-called status of "neutral athlete" by the IOC.
