IOC 'begs' defiant Ukrainian to race without war dead helmet

MILAN/CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Feb 11 : The International Olympic Committee pleaded on Wednesday with skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych to compete without his banned helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia's invasion and avoid potential disqualification.

However, the 27-year-old again trained on Wednesday in his "helmet of remembrance" depicting 24 images of dead compatriots and indicated he would wear it for Thursday's race day.

Asked after his training run if it was the helmet or nothing, Heraskevych, who has an outside chance of finishing on the podium, told reporters: "yes".

"At this point, I would say that a medal is worthless in comparison to people's lives, and I believe, also in comparison to the memory of these athletes," he said, later telling Reuters his defiance remained unchanged despite the IOC's appeal to him.

The global Olympic body banned the helmet on Tuesday for any competition, saying it violated rules on political statements.

That drew the ire of Ukrainian politicians.

Athletes can freely express themselves in press conferences, social media and interviews during the Games but they cannot make any political statements on the field of play or podiums, according to Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter.

The IOC has suggested Heraskevych use a black armband instead.

"We would beg him 'we want you to compete ... We really, really want him to have his moment," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a press conference. 

"We will contact the athlete today and we will reiterate the many, many opportunities he has to express his grief. We want him to express his grief."

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With dozens of conflicts round the world it was impossible to allow political statements in venues, Adams added.

"For us and the