Ukrainian racer defies IOC helmet ban to honor dead (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: This helmet has been banned by Olympic officials, but a Ukrainian athlete is determined to wear it anyway. Skeleton racer Vladislav Hereskevich wants to honour his fellow athletes killed in the war in Ukraine. His helmet pictures 24 of more than 500 athletes who've died since the start of the war.

[00:00:21] Speaker 2: I wore this helmet two days ago, yesterday, today. I will wear it tomorrow and I will wear it for the race day. These people sacrificed their lives and because of that I am able to be here today. I am able to be at the Olympics and I will not betray them.

[00:00:38] Speaker 1: The International Olympic Committee say it breaks Article 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prevents demonstrations of political, religious or racial propaganda within Olympic sites.

[00:00:50] Speaker 3: The IOC fully understands the desire of athletes to remember friends, colleagues who've lost their lives in that conflict. The Games need to be separated, not just from political and religious, but from all types of interference, call it interference, so that all the athletes competing can concentrate on their performance.

[00:01:14] Speaker 1: Mark Adams said that as a concession they had suggested to you to wear a black armband for your competition. What was your reaction to that?

[00:01:25] Speaker 2: I believe the IOC doesn't have enough black bands to memorise all the athletes who were killed in this war.

[00:01:34] Speaker 1: Hereskevich, who was Ukraine's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, says it's up to the IOC to decide if he'll face any sanctions, but he's prepared to risk it.

[00:01:44] Speaker 2: Some things are more important than sports, and I believe to tell the story, and to be honest it's not telling the story, it's just to put these people, to pay tribute to them. Because of this sacrifice I am able today to be here.