You have to be careful when you use social media to express your opinion. Greece’s triple jump champion, Voula Papachristou, was expelled from the London Olympics after posting a very tasteless tweet about Africans and the West Nile virus.
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.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee place Papachristou “outside the Olympic team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement.”
Papachristou sent this apology out on Wednesday:
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.
What do you think? Was the tweet bad enough to warrant her ban?
via SF Gate
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