Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Canoeist forced to hide 'I am Ukrainian' inscription during Olympics, sponsor says

by Martin Fornusek August 7, 2024 2:46 PM 2 min read
Ukraine's canoeist Anastasiia Rybachok. (BGV Group/Facebook)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukraine's canoeist Anastasiia Rybachok was forced to paint over an inscription "I am Ukrainian" she had displayed on her boat during the Paris Olympics, Rybachok's sponsor, BGV Group Management, said on Aug. 7.

"The International Olympic Committee forbids placing any war-related inscriptions on boats. For example, we cannot write 'Stop War.' They consider it propaganda," Rybachok reportedly said in a phone call with BGV Group.

"But the inscription 'I am Ukrainian' is something else, it indicates we belong to Ukraine, this is important."

Rybachok is a silver medalist of the 2020 Olympic Games, and both European and world champion. During this year's Olympics, she will compete in a 500m double canoe and a 200m single canoe event.

The Kyiv Independent has reached out to Rybachok and the Ukrainian Canoeist Federation for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication. The Ukrainian athlete has not confirmed the BGV Group's statement on her social media.

The Ukrainian outlet Hromadske published a photo of the canoe where the inscription is partially painted over.

BGV Group said that Rybachok created the design of her canoe herself.

"This (inscription) is, first of all, a symbol of faith in me and my capabilities. By creating a design for the canoe, I wanted to emphasize that I'm from Ukraine, and I'm incredibly proud of that," BGV Group quoted Rybachok.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it opposes "politicization of sport" and "shall apply political neutrality" during the games.

Following the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IOC banned the national representation of Russia and Belarus from taking part in the Paris Games. The IOC said that the two countries breached the Olympic Charter by violating "the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine."

Russians and Belarusians were allowed to participate as neutral athletes.

Ukraine’s boxer Khyzhniak reaches Olympic finals, securing at least silver
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak defeated Cuban two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez in the 80kg weight class semifinals at the Olympic games in Paris on Aug. 4.
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

8:00 AM

Trump has consulted Hungary's Orban on Ukraine war, sources tell RFE/RL.

Hungarian government sources said that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought Viktor Orban’s opinion on strategies to end the Ukraine war. Orban, known for his close ties with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has openly criticized EU aid for Ukraine and obstructed sanctions against Moscow.
9:32 PM

CERN ends cooperation with Russian institutes.

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on Nov. 30 officially cut ties with research institutes in Russia, following a decision to allow the cooperation agreement to expire in light of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.