(Apparently #Russia is disqualified from the Olympics though Ukraine is participating..)(no comment)
-List of countries in the Olympics in 2026
The IOC suspended Russia and Belarus from the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, but 12 athletes from those countries will still compete. They will be classified as individual neutral athletes (AIN). There are also 4 athletes on the Refugee Olympic Team.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/olympics/news/how-many-countries-olympics-list-nations-2026-winter-games/b6478d61f423d45b03e2efd3
Xpost
Is the war existential or not?
Why is this 186 cm, 97 kg, 27-year-old man in his physical prime not defending his country but is instead competing in a sport nobody in Ukraine has ever heard of?
Is the war existential or not?We express our full support for Ukrainian Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych, who reminded the world of Ukrainian athletes murdered by russia and of moscow’s war crimes committed during the war it unleashed in Europe.
https://x.com/i/status/2021932922752679984
We extend our respect and gratitude to Vladyslav Heraskevych for his principled stance.
Citizens like him are Ukraine’s genuine gold.
Glory to Ukraine!
https://x.com/i/status/2021932929685877158
We are proud of Vladyslav and his act. Having the courage is more than having medals. Sport should not mean indifference, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of the aggressor, - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
"Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych speaks of something else.
This is definitely not about the principles of Olympism, which are based on justice and the support of peace.
I thank our athlete for his clear position.
His helmet with portraits of deceased Ukrainian athletes is about respect and memory.
It's a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and what the price of the struggle for independence is.
And there's no violation of any rule in this.
It's Russia that constantly violates Olympic principles and uses the time of the Olympics for war. In 2008 - war against Georgia, in 2014 - occupation of Crimea, in 2022 - a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
And now, in 2026, despite numerous calls to cease fire during the Winter Olympics, there is complete disregard from Russia and an increase in missile and drone strikes on our energy sector and our people.
660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia during the full-scale war.
Hundreds of our athletes will never be able to participate in the Olympics or any other international competitions again. But at the same time, 13 Russians are currently in Italy and participating in the Olympics.
It's at the Olympics that they are under "neutral" flags, but in life they publicly support Russian aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of our territories.
And it's they who deserve to be disqualified.
https://x.com/i/status/2021933697532887092
