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REVEALED: 2 | Vintage Vibes

Why it’s impossible for the Olympics to be politically neutral

As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy play out, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is once again insisting that any sport under its flag must remain politically neutral. The Olympic charter grounds this position in its fifth “fundamental principle of Olympism”, which states that sports organisations within the…

The Conversation

Heraskevych ban reflects badly on the International Olympic Committee

Letters: Readers respond to the barring of a Ukrainian athlete after he insisted on wearing a helmet featuring photos of athletes and children killed during Russia’s war on his country

The Guardian - UK

After Cheating Scandal Blamed For Costing Team USA Gold Medals, US Figure Skating Breaks Silence

“There has been a lot of thoughtful, and at times emotional, discussion about the ice dance competition in Milan,” US Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell said.

Bored Panda

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The IOC’s ban of a Ukrainian athlete over his helmet reveals troubling double standards

On Feb. 12, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from competition for wearing a helmet that featured images of fellow Ukrainian athletes who had been killed in Russia’s invasion of his home nation.

The Conversation

International Olympic Committee secures big win on athlete speech limits ahead of 2028 LA Games

The International Olympic Committee secured a victory for itself when a Ukrainian skeleton athlete lost his appeal against disqualification from the Milan Cortina Games

The Independent UK

The intensity and perfectionism that drive Olympic athletes also put them at high risk for eating disorders

Olympians – athletes at the top of their sport and in prime health – are idolized and often viewed as superhuman. These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.

The Conversation

Ukrainian athlete lodges appeal over Olympic disqualification after helmet row

Heraskevych was ruled out of competing at the Olympics before the skeleton competition began on Thursday

The Independent UK

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Ukrainian Lugers Kneel in Protest Hours After Teammate Is Disqualified Over Helmet

Skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for refusing to change his helmet from one that features the faces of athletes and coaches killed in Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Sports Illustrated

Who is Kirsty Coventry? The tearful IOC president at centre of Ukraine athlete helmet ban

Kirsty Coventry was appointed president of the IOC last year. Her organisation have banned a Ukrainian athlete over his helmet which paid tribute to those lost in the Russia war

The Independent UK

'Madness': Ukrainians furious over Olympian ban for memorial helmet

Ukrainians were outraged Thursday by a decision from the International Olympic Committee to disqualify their skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Winter Olympics over his helmet honouring killed athletes.

Radio France Internationale

Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations

“These results are disheartening and frustrating…”

Bored Panda

Ukrainian disqualified from Winter Olympics after wearing banned war tribute helmet

Vladyslav Heraskevych defied pleas from the International Olympic Committee after it warned him a helmet featuring images of compatriots killed during the war with Russia would not be allowed

The Independent UK

The Ukrainian daring the Winter Olympics to disqualify him over war tribute helmet

Vladyslav Heraskevych has vowed to go against the International Olympic Committee’s rule and says he will not ‘betray’ the Ukrainian athletes who have died during the Russian war

The Independent UK

I will not betray them – Ukrainian vows to compete in banned war victim helmet

Skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych criticised the International Olympic Committee.

The Independent UK

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The Independent UK

Ukrainian trains in helmet honoring fellow athletes killed in war. IOC says it's banned for race

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will be allowed to wear a black armband at the Milan Cortina Games but the International Olympic Committee says he cannot wear a helmet painted to honor Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia

The Guardian - UK

Ukraine racer defies IOC ban by wearing ‘helmet of memory’ as anger grows

A Ukrainian skeleton racer has accused the International Olympic Committee of ‘betrayal’ after it banned his racing helmet showing images of athletes and friends killed following Russia’s invasion

The Independent UK

Ukraine sports minister hits out ‘irresponsible’ people who want Russia to return to Olympics

Matvii Bidnyi, Ukraine's minister of youth and sports, said that any change would appear to condone Russia's invasion

The Independent UK

IOC responds to booing of JD Vance and Israeli athletes at Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony

The International Olympic Committee encouraged ‘fair play’ and commended the US administration’s level of engagement with this Milano-Cortina Games

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The Conversation

Why athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics are finally being given more power to monetise their performances

The 2026 Winter Olympics have come at a turning point in sport in terms of how Olympians are allowed to monetise their performances. In December, the governing body the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that, for the first time, Olympians would have access to footage from their competitions to use…

The Independent UK

Israel’s first-ever bobsled team focused on Winter Olympics history amid Gaza war backlash

Israel's first bobsled team is set to compete in the Winter Olympics in Italy despite backlash over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

The Independent UK

Winter Olympics: Why aren’t Palestine competing and is Israel banned?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains that both Israel and Palestine should have equal opportunity to compete at the Games

The Independent UK

IOC open to earlier dates for future Winter Olympics and Paralympics because of warmer temperatures

Staging future Winter Games as early as January and the Paralympic Winter Games in February is a possibility because of warmer temperatures, the International Olympic Committee says

The Independent UK

Norwegian skier hands IOC a petition to 'ski fossil free' ahead of the Olympics

Norwegian skier Nikolai Schirmer has handed the International Olympic Committee a petition signed by more than 21,000 people who want to stop fossil fuel companies from bolstering their reputations by sponsoring winter sports

The Conversation

AI is coming to Olympic judging: what makes it a game changer?

As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) embraces AI-assisted judging, this technology promises greater consistency and improved transparency. Yet research suggests that trust, legitimacy, and cultural values may matter just as much as technical accuracy.

The Independent UK

From Montreal to Milan: Christina Carreira's journey to US citizenship and the Winter Olympics

The International Olympic Committee requires athletes to be citizens of the nation they represent

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