Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

2 hours ago

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

3 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

3 hours ago

Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.

1 day ago

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

1 day ago

What’s Next for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs After His Sex Trafficking Trial?

1 day ago
Olympian Flashes 'No War in Ukraine' Sign After Competing
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
February 11, 2022

Share

 

A Ukrainian athlete flashed a small sign that read “ No War in Ukraine ” to the cameras as he finished a run at the Beijing Olympics on Friday night, a plea for peace at a time of rising tensions between his country and Russia.

Vladyslav Heraskevych’s sign was printed on a blue-and-yellow piece of paper, matching the colors of his country’s flag. He did not display the message after his second run of the night, which was his fourth and final run of the Olympics.

“It’s my position. Like any normal people, I don’t want war,” Heraskevych said after he finished competing in the skeleton event. “I want peace in my country, and I want peace in the world. It’s my position, so I fight for that. I fight for peace.”

IOC Says No Repercussions for Athlete

The gesture came as Russia has amassed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine, stoking fears in the West that Moscow is planning an invasion. Russia insists it has no such designs but doesn’t want Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to be allowed to join the western NATO alliance.

“In Ukraine, it’s really nervous now,” Heraskevych said. “A lot of news about guns, about weapons, what’s to come in Ukraine, about some armies around Ukraine. It’s not OK. Not in the 21st century. So I decided, before the Olympics, that I would show my position to the world.”

Shortly after the race, the International Olympic Committee said there would be no repercussions for the athlete. There had been a question of whether the body might consider Heraskevych’s act a violation of Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter. That rule, in part, states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

“This was a general call for peace. For the IOC the matter is closed,” the Games’ governing body said Friday night.

Heraskevych earlier said he was not concerned about any possible repercussions.

“I hope the Olympics will (support) me in this situation. Nobody wants war,” said Heraskevych, who was not a medal contender. “I hope it helps … make peace in our country.”

The IOC relaxed its rule against protests before the Tokyo Games, allowing athletes to express themselves politically before competitions start.

China Games Under Diplomatic Boycott by Some

In the runup to these Games, many braced for potential protests against the host country, China, which has been accused of widespread abuses against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs. It has also come under fire for its polices toward Tibet, its crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong and the near-total disappearance from public view of tennis player Peng Shuai after she accused a former Communist Party official of sexual assault.

Concerns over human rights abuses led some countries to stage a diplomatic boycott of the Games, while Chinese organizers warned foreign athletes that any statement that goes against Chinese law could be punished.

Meanwhile, the heightened tensions over Ukraine cast a pall over last week’s opening ceremony, when IOC President Thomas Bach implored participating countries to uphold the long-running Olympic Truce, which calls for a cessation of hostilities during the Games.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in attendance when Bach spoke, has drawn closer to China and some have suggested he may not want to invade Ukraine during the Olympics so as to avoid embarrassing his ally, Chinese President Xi Jinping.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

DON'T MISS

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Will Focus on Fed Chair Replacement in Fall, Bessent Says

DON'T MISS

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

DON'T MISS

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

DON'T MISS

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

DON'T MISS

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

DON'T MISS

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

UP NEXT

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Will Focus on Fed Chair Replacement in Fall, Bessent Says

UP NEXT

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

UP NEXT

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

UP NEXT

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

UP NEXT

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

UP NEXT

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

UP NEXT

Supreme Court’s Conservatives Leaned Into US Culture Wars With Transgender Cases

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

2 hours ago

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

2 hours ago

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

2 hours ago

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

2 hours ago

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

2 hours ago

US House Republicans Head Toward Final Vote on Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut Bill

3 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

3 hours ago

Supreme Court’s Conservatives Leaned Into US Culture Wars With Transgender Cases

3 hours ago

San Luis Obispo’s Madre Fire Grows to 35,000 Acres, More Evacuations Ordered

3 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

3 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

July 3, 2025 Most Wanted Person of the Day Suspect Name: Sandra Neredia Jaquez Suspects Date of Birth: July 3, 1998 Physical Description: Hi...

4 minutes ago

Sandra Neredia Jaquez is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 3, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
4 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Sandra Neredia Jaquez

30 minutes ago

Trump Impounds Billions in Education Funding. For Fresno Unified, It’s $7.1 Million

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference following a weekly policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24, 2025. (Reuters)
1 hour ago

Trump Administration Will Focus on Fed Chair Replacement in Fall, Bessent Says

2 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

U.S. and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken March 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Paves Way to Resume Ethane Exports to China Amid Trade Truce

A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2024. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Supreme Court Won’t Consider Reviving Montana Abortion Parental Consent Law

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol as Republican lawmakers struggle to pass U.S. President Donald Trump?s sweeping spending and tax bill, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 27, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

US Imposes New Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah, Treasury Dept Says

2 hours ago

Keep Pets Safe on 4th of July: Fresno County Animal Shelter Offers Tips

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend