Greece expel triple-jumper

Paraskevi Papachristou: Excluded from Greek Olympic team after posting offensive remarks on Twitter

Greek triple-jumper Paraskevi Papachristou has been expelled from Greece's Olympic team after posting offensive comments on her Twitter account.

Papachristou, Greece's female champion in the triple-jump, was excluded following a remark she made about African immigrants.

The Hellenic Olympic Committee announced the decision despite a subsequent apology by the athlete.

In a statement on its website www.hoc.gr, the Hellenic Olympic Committee said: "Following the decision of the Hellenic Delegations' Administration Board, the triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou, is suspended after her comments that go against to the values and ideals of Olympism.

"The athlete is not in London and was expected just before the beginning of the athletics events."

Apology

In a message published earlier on her Facebook site, Papachristou apologised for her remarks.

"I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account," she wrote.

"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 coul...d never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.

"I would like to apologise 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 apologise to my coach and my family."(reopens) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) backed Greece's stance.

IOC communications director Mark Adams said: "This is clearly a matter for the Greek NOC (National Olympic Committee), it is under their jurisdiction.

"They clearly felt the Olympic charter had been contravened and that is their decision. If indeed it has we will fully support them in that.

"The rules haven't changed in that sense, simply that the comments were made on social media and I understand they clearly contravene the Olympic charter so in that respect, and not having seen the comments, the process seems to have been followed correctly."

(reopens) In addition to Sunday's tweet about the West Nile virus and Africans living in Greece, Papachristou had also retweeted a posting by Ilias Kasidiaris, a politician with the far-right Golden Dawn party, criticising Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's stance on immigration.