Greek triple jumper expelled from Olympics for racist Tweet that wasn't actually racist.

[Berithil]

So..... An Olympic athlete who has trained most of her life for this gets kicked off the team because of a joke?

Sounds legit.....


Sure, it was an unnecessary, and perhaps unsavory, joke, but seriously.... people need to grow a thicker skin.
Her dream potentially just got shattered because some people are too sensitive and politically correct. Of course, I was raised on a "sticks and stones" viewpoint, which is a big reason for my dislike of political correctness.....


And yes, I'm quite aware that I'm probably the minority here.

 

[suitepee7]

sounds racist to me. i personally don't give a fuck about racial issues, but if he didn't use twitter, this wouldn't have happened. sucks that they got kicked out of the olympics, but then they shouldn't have acted like a bit of a dick

 

[Blade_125]

Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.

I have seen more offensive language before, but the intent seemed a bit clear, especially when you look at her affiliations.

Regardless of what I think (and of course all of this is opinion, none of us can know what she was actually thinking), Greece agrees that the comment was innappropriate and they do not want that to be a reflection of their country, so they are completely in their right to choose who will and will not represent them at the olympics.

 

[Jak23]

Even if she was making a racist comment, that shouldn't have warranted expulsion.

 

[4173]

It's too bad that some other form of sanction couldn't be negotiated*, but I won't say it was the wrong decision either.

It looks racist, but I suppose it may not have been. But does anyone really miss using "niggardly?"




*And for all I know, the Grecian officials exhausted all other options. If the athlete was unrepentant, for example, their hands are somewhat tied.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

snip

She wasn't commenting on African Olympians she was commenting on the African immigrants in her country.

She has also shown affiliation to a Neo Nazi party the Golden Dawn and retweeted racist and sexist things they have said.

Maybe learn the facts before you make excuses for her. Unless you think a fascist agenda should be encouraged in this day and age?

Spoiler: Taken from the BBC website

As well as the comment on Sunday referring to the West Nile virus and Africans living in Greece, Papachristou had also reposted a tweet by Ilias Kasidiaris, a politician with the far-right Golden Dawn party, criticising Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's stance on immigration.

She had previously retweeted several links to videos promoting the views of Golden Dawn, which won 7% of the vote in Greece's recent elections, and had directly communicated online with Mr Kasidiaris.

Mr Kasidiaris gained notoriety for slapping one left-wing woman politician and throwing water over another, during a heated debate on a television show.

Papachristou tweeted him on his name day last week: "Many happy years, be always strong and true!!!"

 

[Goofguy]

So..... An Olympic athlete who has trained most of her life for this gets kicked off the team because of a joke?

Sounds legit.....


Sure, it was an unnecessary, and perhaps unsavory, joke, but seriously.... people need to grow a thicker skin.
Her dream potentially just got shattered because some people are too sensitive and politically correct. Of course, I was raised on a "sticks and stones" viewpoint, which is a big reason for my dislike of political correctness.....


And yes, I'm quite aware that I'm probably the minority here.

I agree with you, the world would be a better place if a lot of people would just grow a thicker skin. Alas, such is not the reality. Every country is walking on egg shells when it comes to these international events. They all want to be beyond reproach and show that they don't tolerate any type of commentary that might alienate, belittle or insult others.

Personally, I would love to see the nation that says: "F*** it, we're here to win medals". Or, at the very least, say that the opinions of their athletes aren't representative of the country as a whole and that they're entitled to their views as long as they comport themselves in a sportmanslike manner.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

It toes the line and can be easily misinterpreted, as the wall of people misinterpreting it showed, and they didn't want it to represent their country. I think that's up to them.

I would like to see a country that has the stones to stand up and defend the athlete they chose in the first place when there's gray area like this, though. "Yeah, it was controversial, but that's not how it was intended, and no one's perfect; she realizes she did something less than brilliant, and we still think she's fit to stand with the best we have to offer." would be far more deserving of respect than "HOLY SHIT WE'RE SORRY SHE'S FUCKING OUT".

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read on the beeb that she had been reported to be a supporter of Golden Dawn in the past?

Here's the article

I can sort of understand not wanting her to represent the country. I wouldn't want a BNP or EDL supporter representing the UK.

So because she is part of a political party, she shouldn't be allowed to go to the Olympics? What the hell.....

Can the US start refusing to allow socialist or communist from being US Olympians as well?

Cut the politics and PC nonsense.

So..... An Olympic athlete who has trained most of her life for this gets kicked off the team because of a joke?

Sounds legit.....


Sure, it was an unnecessary, and perhaps unsavory, joke, but seriously.... people need to grow a thicker skin.
Her dream potentially just got shattered because some people are too sensitive and politically correct. Of course, I was raised on a "sticks and stones" viewpoint, which is a big reason for my dislike of political correctness.....


And yes, I'm quite aware that I'm probably the minority here.

My feelings exactly.

 

[justnotcricket]

It's a shame for her that she got kicked off the team, but that's what you get for gargling rubbish out over the internet when you're in a high profile public position.

I've always thought that the *idea* (if not always the reality) behind the Olympics these days was that it was supposed to be a place where all countries/peoples could meet up for some good, clean sporting fun, *without* all the crappy stuff that clouds international/interracial relations in the real world.

With that in mind, you can't have someone like her representing your country *in public forums*. I'm sure lots of athletes say off-colour things amongst themselves in the changing rooms or hotels or whatever, and while obviously that's not great, at least it's not publicly offending anyone and undermining the spirit of the games.

It's the Olympics. Chances are your country (or a sponsor in it) has put a lot of money into you to get you where you are, and (especially with Greece's financial problems) it's a poor repayment of that trust and support to go making stupid veiled-racist comments on the internet.

 

[Zeema]

Even if she was making a racist comment, that shouldn't have warranted expulsion.

Olympic athletes represent their country, and nobody wants their country associated with racism.

The thing is there representing there country and you don't want your country to be taken as Racist.

EDIT:sorry New Forum tricked me

 

[TheTim]

Ok i'm sorry, but how could they kick her off the team? the tweet was hilarious.

 

[Luna]

Sounds like an over reaction to me, regardless of the silliness of her statement.

 

[lemby117]

Wow she gets kicked out of the Olympics for this but when John Terry calls another player a "Black c**t" he receives just a slap on the wrist. I don't want to live in this country any more, it has worn me out I'm done.