In a speech to the Olympic movement in Milan last week, new IOC president Kirsty Coventry outlined her belief that the Olympics should focus on sport and stay as apolitical as possible. To most observers, the former Olympic swimming champion sounded desperate to avoid political controversy and lean into the Olympic ideals of peace, love and harmony. Unfortunately, like battle plans in war, a new president’s vision rarely survives its first contact with reality. At a hastily scheduled press conference on Tuesday, the Ukrainian skeleton athlete said: Vladislav Heraskevich Standing in front of the Olympic rings in Cortina, he told the media that he had no plans to back out of his plans to wear a helmet to commemorate the lives of Ukrainian athletes who died in the war with Russia.

Earlier today, an IOC spokesperson said helmets would not be allowed to be worn as they would violate Olympic neutrality rules. However, as a compromise, Heraskevich was allowed to wear a black armband. Ukraine’s standard-bearers at these Olympics quickly dismissed the idea, saying the IOC did not have enough armbands for all the Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia. He also said he had no intention of betraying their memory, accused the IOC of double standards in allowing other athletes to send political messages, and urged the world not to forget Ukraine’s sacrifice. Joining him in front of the ring was the head coach of the Latvian skeleton team. Ivo SteinbergsHe said many athletes supported Heraskevich and suggested they might protest any attempt to ban Heraskevich from racing while wearing a helmet when the men’s competition begins on Thursday. Another big message from Coventry was to put the athletes first. It looks like she’ll have to make a very difficult choice this week.