(KYIV) — The international sporting community faces a growing crisis of legitimacy as athletes from the Russian Federation and Belarus are permitted to return to global competition while the brutal war of aggression against Ukraine continues. This decision has sparked widespread outrage, leading several nations to boycott opening ceremonies in protest against what is described as the “normalisation” of the Russian regime.
In a recent interview, Vladyslav Heraskevych, a prominent Ukrainian skeleton racer, detailed his disqualification from the Winter Olympics after refusing to remove a helmet that paid tribute to Ukrainian athletes killed during the invasion. The helmet featured the images of more than 20 sportspeople and coaches who lost their lives in the conflict. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that the tribute violated regulations against political statements during competition. Heraskevych maintained the gesture was one of remembrance rather than politics, stating that honouring the fallen was a priority over competing for an Olympic medal.
The history of sport demonstrates that authoritarian regimes frequently use international competitions to sanitise their image. From the 1936 Berlin Olympics hosted by the Nazi regime to the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, dictators have utilised the “illusion of peace” created by sport to mask imminent aggression. Notably, Russian troops annexed Crimea just four days after the Sochi closing ceremony. Similarly, the full scale invasion of February 2022 followed the Beijing Winter Olympics by a matter of days.
The Russian dictator has also been accused of overseeing a state sponsored doping programme, famously uncovered in 2016. Investigative reports detailed government laboratories swapping urine samples through secret holes in walls to engineer victories and project national strength. Despite this history of systemic cheating and the current war, pro-Russian influence within the IOC appears to remain significant. Heraskevych noted that while his tribute was banned, Russian flags were visible in audiences, and athletes with Russian ties were permitted to perform personal tributes without sanction.
As the Paralympics commence, concerns have shifted toward the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Reports indicate that over 300 former Russian military personnel, some injured during the current invasion of Ukraine, are now part of Russia’s national Paralympic teams. Critics argue this allows individuals involved in the killing of Ukrainians to be celebrated on the world stage, spreading Kremlin propaganda under the guise of sportsmanship. Calls for the total removal of Russia from international sport continue, as advocates argue that until such influence is excised, the “madness” of supporting an aggressor while punishing the defender will persist.
