Greek jumper expelled from Olympic Games for racist comment

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Paraskevi “Voula” Papachristou, a Greek triple jumper, was expelled from her country’s Olympic team for a Tweet perceived as racist. Papachristou, 23, was preparing to travel to London for her first Olympic Games when she posted a joke on her Twitter feed. The tweet was in regards to the West Nile virus, and appeared to mock Greece’s African immigrant population.

“With so many Africans in Greece, at least the mosquitoes of West Nile will eat homemade food!!!” she tweeted on Sunday. The Greek jumper has often taken to Twitter to express her support for the extreme right-wing party Golden Dawn, which has spiked in popularity among Greeks. On Monday, Papachristou took offense on her Twitter account, but became remorseful on Wednesday saying, “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,” she said in a statement. “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.” However, her apologies were not enough to regain a spot on her nation’s team. “She can make as many vile ‘jokes’ as she likes on social-networking sites when she watches the Olympic Games on TV,” The co-ruling Democratic Left Party said. “But she certainly cannot represent Greece in London.”




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