Only hours before the start of the London Olympics, a Greek triple jumper has been pulled from the national team for posting a racist tweet.
Paraskevi Papachristou was withdrawn after causing an uproar for posting a tweet slammed as being racist.
“With so many Africans in Greece, the mosquitoes from the West Nile will at least be eating some homemade food,” she wrote on Twitter.
Despite apologizing, the 23-year-old will now have to watch the Games from home.
I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal (cont) tl.gd/ih3mcp
— βο?λα Παπαχρ?στου (@papaxristoutj) July 25, 2012
Some have called the punishment extreme. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appeared to support the decision.
“Well clearly this is a matter for the Greek NOC and they take the decision, they presumably felt they were right. All I can say is not commenting on this particular one but clearly if they’re breaking the Olympic Charter then that’s the right thing to do,” said Mark Adams, the IOC’s director of communications.
Her expulsion is expected to act as a warning to other athletes to think before they tweet.
Social media users have been urged to stick to the Olympic Charter, which condemns any discrimination.
