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Greek athlete expelled from Olympics for racist tweet
Greece's triple-jump champion was expelled from the Olympics after
posting a tasteless tweet about Africans and the West Nile
virus.Hellenic Olympic Committee officials announced Voula Papachristou
wouldn't travel to London after she tweeted a joke about African
immigrants.
On Monday, the track athlete posted a tweet reading,
"with so many Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitos will
be eating food from their own home." The comments created an uproar on
Greek social media. Papachristou didn't address the criticism on Twitter
for two days.http://www.google-jerseys.cc
Greece later announced it would place Papchristou "outside the Olympic
team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic
movement."
Values outside the Olympic movement? So if she had sold her Twitter
account to the highest bidder, went on a McDonald's diet or decided to
sit out the Games rather than face a member of a different religion,
she'd be cool? Ban her if you want, Greece, but don't pin it on the
questionable values of the Olympic movement.
Papachristou's tweet was tasteless, inane, tasteless (again) and not at
all funny. But does it deserve Olympic banishment? Look, if you have to
parse how racist a statement is, then it's already too racist. But
there's still a threshold that needs to be crossed to get into the
"we're going to ban you from the Olympics" territory and I'm not sure
Papachristou's tweet got there. Unless you think she's suggesting that
she wants African Greeks to contract West Nile (I don't think you can
make that assumption based on this tweet), then this is stupid racial
humor rather than racism.http://www.google-jerseys.cc
The nation's Democratic Left disagreed and called for Papachristou's
banning. "Watching the Olympics on TV screen," the party wrote, "she
could do as many vile 'jokes' she wants through the social media."So
they want her to make racist jokes on Twitter? That's just as offensive!
Papachristou issued a strong apology for her tweet on Wednesday
afternoon:I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the
unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter
account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I
triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human
rights.
My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly
participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never
believe in discrimination between human beings and races.
I would like to apologize to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I
may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people
and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to
apologize to my coach and my family.
I ask again: Does she deserve to be banned from the Olympics? This is no
defense of Papachristou. The tweet was stupid and misguided, at best.
But if this is about teaching and tolerance, then doesn't letting her
compete make more sense? She's contrite about the incident. In theory,
she could do more good by being on the world's biggest stage rather than
being left behind in Athens.http://www.google-jerseys.cc
Meanwhile, good for Greek politicians for keeping an eye on the
important stuff, like the Twitter accounts of triple jumpers. I can
think of literally nothing else in the country that deserves attention.postby:doris20120731
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July 31, 2012, 10:09 am
