The slopes of Sochi are far from the violence of Ukraine.<br/> <br />But for Olympic skier Bogdana Matsotska, the turmoil in her homeland is just a phone call away.<br/> <br />Now she's withdrawing from Friday's slalom competition.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"My friends are there at the Maidan, people I know, close friends of mine. To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace, I simply cannot do it."<br/> <br />At the Olympic village, Ukrainian flags hanging on balconies now feature black ribbons to mark the violence.<br/> <br />Ukrainian team officials and some athletes also hold a minute of silence.<br/> <br />Matsotska says she didn't mean for politics to enter the Olympics but had no choice.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I am not a political person I am totally out of politics and political parties, but
