Athlete Banned From Olympics After Racist Twitter Joke

26 Jul 2012 by Jasmine Stone in Olympic Games, Sport

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“With so many Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!” It was this racist tweet that got Greek triple jumper, Voula Papachristou, expelled from the Olympics. She was referring to reports of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus in her home country.

The comment drew huge criticism from other Twitter users, with responses such as “if you are serious, the Greek Olympic Team should put you on the first plane and send you back”, and “xenophobic comments from a Greek athlete in the Olympic mission are unacceptable. We are ashamed.”

After initially insisting her comment had been ‘a joke’, Papachristou yesterday issued a lengthy apology. But she still got expelled from the team by the Greek Olympic Committee, who said her statements had been “contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement”.

Let’s hope she’s learned her lesson.

[Source: Daily Mail]

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