Katia Diachenko was eleven. A young gymnast from Mariupol, killed by russia’s invasion. Her name appeared on a tribute helmet worn by Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych. For that helmet, he was disqualified — deemed a “political demonstration” under IOC rules.

When remembering a murdered child becomes sanctionable, neutrality stops being balance and starts looking like moral failure.

@EugeneMcParland
https://mastodon.social/@bellule/116063136272738902

Meanwhile, the Olympic Committee is selling T-shirts in its shop bearing the image and glory of the #NAZI Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936‼️
Which is obviously 💯 apolitical.

And this t-shirt is named "heritage" ... ⤵️

https://shop.olympics.com/de/olympic-games/mens-natural-1936-berlin-games-olympic-heritage-t-shirt

Olympic Games Apparel, Shirts, Olympic Games Gear, Hats | Global Olympic Online Shop - EU (IOC)

Official Olympic Games merchandise and gear is at Global Olympic Online Shop - EU (IOC). Shop Olympic Games hats, shirts, sweatshirts and more Olympic Games clothing so you're ready to watch the big event.

Global Olympic Online Shop - EU (IOC)
@bellule @EugeneMcParland I don't know if they've removed them but I cannot find them in the store.
@ProphetsCross @EugeneMcParland
Here is an illustration of this T-shirt as it is or was presented
@bellule @EugeneMcParland Oh great, I mean if they had wanted to represent those games they could have chose Jesse Owens, which would have made a cool T Shirt embarrassing the Nazi's instead of celebrating them like that T Shirt, Jesus.
@ProphetsCross @EugeneMcParland
Whoa, please, horror, no politics at the Olympics ! They said
@ProphetsCross @EugeneMcParland
It seems that it has been withdrawn from sale, given the more than justified controversy it has caused.
But the fact that they had the audacity to glorify these shameful Olympic Games speaks volumes.
@EugeneMcParland the IOC also forced Haiti to change their uniforms as well.
@EugeneMcParland I mean this is the IOC, that was led for decades by Franco stooge Juan Antonio Samaranch, so I'd say it is entirely in character.
@EugeneMcParland
Perhaps I’m just naive but I saw nothing political about that helmet and felt it was a tribute to his fellow athletes. I have great admiration for Vladyslav Heraskevych and feel he was greatly wronged.🇺🇦🇺🇦
@EugeneMcParland Shame on those Olympic officials!