Greece expels Olympic athlete over racist tweets

[Demonaut]

Source: By DEMETRIS NELLAS (Associated Press) | The Associ

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Triple jumper Voula Papachristou was expelled from Greece's Olympic team Wednesday for her comments on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right party.

But it was her attempt at a joke Sunday that went viral. Commenting on the widely reported appearance of Nile-virus-carrying mosquitoes in Athens, Papachristou wrote: "With so many Africans in Greece, the West Nile mosquitoes will be getting home food!!!". Her tweet prompted thousands of negative comments that snowballed Wednesday.



Her attitude changed completely Wednesday and she has posted five apologetic tweets in less than two hours. The last tweet, a very long one in English, which she has also posted on her Facebook account, reads: "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.

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/greece-expels-olympic-athlete-over-133231136--oly.html

[EleazarV]

1. Just the way it should be!

If only other nations could follow suit. Racism has no place in sport.

Claiming that what you said is a "joke" is no excuse.

[RufusTFirefly]

2. Her support for the Golden Dawn party makes any apologies seem utterly hollow and self-serving n/t

[msongs]

3. maybe willard romney could post the same apology then withdraw from the presidential race nt

[AllyCat]

7. !

[harun]

4. Bravo Greece.

[Posteritatis]

5. Praising the GD? Citius, altius, fascius! (nt)

[mojowork_n]

6. Ooh, ooh -- Pick Me, Pick Me

??? ??ή????, ??? ????ά, ? ?έ???

or in English, loosely:

"more quickly, more deeply, the bundle"

from the motto for the Olympic Games--

Quicker, Higher, Stronger

Replacing fortius with fascius = "the bundle"

[Judi Lynn]

8. Only decent response. Good news. Thank you, Demonaut. n/t

[4th law of robotics]

9. You would think in all her years of training some coach would have mentioned

the concept of STFU.

At least until after the olympics are over.