The Lithuanian Olympic Committee (LTOK), along with the Latvian Olympic Committee, has formally reached out to the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) to seek an explanation for the disqualification of Ukrainian athlete V. Heraskevičius from the Olympic Games. The disqualification stemmed from images on his helmet that honored Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives due to the war provoked by Russia. The situation has raised questions about the balance between adhering to Olympic regulations and allowing athletes to express their respect and remembrance for fallen comrades.

Both the Lithuanian and Latvian Olympic Committees recognize the importance of sports federations in enforcing the Olympic Charter and athletes' expression guidelines, which aim to shield the Olympic Games from various political agendas and ensure fair competition for all participants. However, LTOK President Daina Gudzinevičiūtė has argued that the helmet designed by Heraskevičius was a tribute meant to honor the memory of Ukrainian athletes who perished in the ongoing conflict. She emphasized that such symbolic gestures should be viewed as humanitarian rather than political statements, asserting that respect for the deceased is an expression of basic humanity.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between sports, politics, and expressions of nationalism within the Olympic framework. As the world continues to grapple with complex geopolitical issues, the response from international sports organizations regarding athletes' expressions related to such matters will be scrutinized by both the public and competing nations. The Lithuanian and Latvian Olympic committees continue to advocate for a nuanced understanding of the role of symbolic gestures in the sporting arena, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.