The banning of Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych at the Winter Olympics is yet another soft weapon benefiting Russia. He was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) simply for wearing a helmet depicting 12 Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia.
Incredulously, IOC President Kirsty Coventry justified the ban by stating it violated “rules and regulations,” to “keep everyone safe.” There is a responsibility to maintain safety but in this case remembrance of deceased athletes poses no threat to anyone. Thus, the decision to ban the helmet to honor 650 athletes killed by Russia, hands the Kremlin a propaganda win.
Historically, the Olympic games have played a role in destroying world peace. The 1936 Olympics was used as a soft weapon giving Germany a platform on the world stage to intimidate the world. It also galvanized unified support among the German people that they were the superior masters of the human race. The 1936 Olympics was the precursor that helped grease the skids for World War II.
The decision to ban Olympic athletes is not just about rules and regulations. It should be equally based on values respecting the sanctity of life, human rights, international peaceful co-existence and unity. Russia’s existential purpose of allegedly committing 185,000 war crimes in Ukraine obliterates everything the Olympics represent.
Most Americans are unaware that Russia bears partial responsibility for starting the second World War costing the lives of 60-75 million people worldwide and 325,000 American soldiers. Prior to Russia joining the allies, Germany and Russia formed an alliance to attack Poland in 1939 that started World War II.
For the past 100 years Russia and Soviet Russia attacked at least 19 countries according to the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. No country on the planet has done more to destroy humanity and civil society than Russia and its predecessor, the Soviet Union. Germany acknowledged and repented their atrocities against millions of Jews, but Russia has never apologized for murdering tens of millions of civilians during the last century.
During the last century the world said “never again.” Meanwhile, Russia the pariah spurns the civilized world, carrying out genocide amid threats of nuclear devastation.
In the 1930s, Soviet Russia caused a man-made starvation (the Holodomor) causing the deaths of millions of Ukrainians. Russia’s genocidal invasion of Ukraine is aimed at repeating their unrelenting human atrocities against Ukraine.
Kremlin officials continually call for the annihilation of Ukraine’s culture, language and its people. Despite this the IOC appeased Russia by allowing 13 athletes to compete as “neutrals” at the current Winter Games in Milan-Cortina Italy. As the Winter Olympics proceeded, Russia intensified their missile strikes killing five, including two toddlers at a home near Kharkiv, Ukraine.
It’s time the IOC stopped appeasing Russia under the guise of separating Olympic Games from politics. Germany used the 1936 Olympics to their advantage while Russia is nefariously doing the same. Images of Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Zhe smiling together at the 2022 winter games precluded Russia’s vicious attack against Ukraine, four days after the Beijing Olympics.
During the last century the world said “never again.” Meanwhile, Russia the pariah spurns the civilized world, carrying out genocide amid threats of nuclear devastation. Russia has abducted 20,000 Ukrainian children, resurrected filtration camps resembling concentration camps, bombed dozens of cities into oblivion, murdered at least 60 priests and untold thousands of civilians, bombed 600 churches and terrorized millions of children. If this isn’t genocide the word has no meaning.
If the IOC has any moral courage “to keep everyone safe” they should permanently ban Russian athletes and their flag on the world stage. The Russian flag has become a symbol of fascism that represents the destruction of civil society and humanity.
This IOC Russian ban should remain in effect until they take concrete actions including the following: Russia must return 20,000 Ukrainian children that were abducted according to Ukrainian officials. Secondly, Russia must deliver Vladimir Putin and other alleged war criminals to the Hague for prosecution. The Russian Federation must pay appropriate reparations to compensate Ukraine. Finally, the Russian government must repent and acknowledge culpability for their human atrocities in Ukraine.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.