Zelensky accuses Winter Olympics of ‘playing into Russia’s hands’

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the men’s skeleton heats on day six of the Winter Olympics where all eyes are on Vladyslav Heraskevych.

Throughout practice, Heraskevych has worn a specially designed ‘helmet of memory’ which depicts the faces of 24 Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022.

The 27-year-old has vowed to continuing wearing the helmet in the first round of competition proper this morning, something which the International Olympic Committee say would contravene their rules forbidding political statements.

The IOC has offered Heraskevych the chance to display the helmet before and after his skeleton run, but they regard the field of play as sacrosanct.

When asked directly if they would disqualify Heraskevych or bar him from competing, the IOC said they would follow their rules.

Of course, it would be a considerable political and diplomatic own goal by the IOC were they to disqualify a Ukrainian athlete but on the other hand, allowing the rules to slide could open the floodgates to more political statements of various stripes.

It puts the organisers in something of a bind then, and it promises to be a tense moment when Heraskevych walks out to compete.

As Jeremy Wilson reports, the IOC held urgent talks on Wednesday with Heraskevych and begged him to stand down.

“I will not betray these athletes,” Heraskevych said. “These athletes sacrificed their lives, and because of this sacrifice, I am able to be here, so I will not betray them.

“An Olympic medal would be huge. Since my childhood, it’s my big dream. But in this time, in time of full-scale war, some things are really more important than medals. At this point, I would say that a medal is worthless in comparison to people’s lives, and I believe in comparison to memory of these athletes.”