Voula Papachristou: I’m Trying To Come To Terms With Olympic Ban

“She showed no respect for a basic Olympic value and unfortunately she is out…. She made a mistake and in life we pay for our mistakes.” That's it, nothing else to be said.

I believe the punishment is fair and should serve as a deterrent to others who bask in the limelight but are very disrespectful in their public opinion on any subject especially about other people. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, so goes a popular saying. This lady is downright racist and a white supremacist. Does she even know about the scientific analysis of why the whites have pink pigmentation? What was she thinking? After such a comment, what does she want other contestants who are of African descent to think or feel? She needs to read some history, poor sanitation was not part of our heritage, we don't breed mosquitoes. She should go straight home and once there, get busy with how her country can avoid its looming bankruptcy. Maybe an African nation will be willing to bail them out.

What does poor sanitation have to do with mosquitoes? Maybe you're confusing sanitation with climate.

I'm sorry but there is nothing racist in her tweet. Africa, being a continent with many different races of people, the term" African" simply cannot be viewed as pertaining to a single race. In my opinion, to assume "African" is one particular race of people, is in itself racism!

I don't feel she should have been kicked out. There were no slurs in the tweet and she also apologized. They should have let her stay.

I wonder nobody has not stoned yet the HEAD OF ATHENS MEDICAL ASSOCIATION who repeatedly has given out warnings about the HYGIENE BOMB WE ARE BREEDING with three million of mostlly Black and Pakistani, Afgan people swarming in the centre of Athens. They are illegal immigrants in an impoverished country and THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MEDICATION TO PASS AROUND EVEN FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY.They are creating a huge inconvenience a tragic problem. They brought back TB, and lots of AIDS in our country . We do not want these three million of black illegal immigrants in the middle of Athens. They are bad for our business, they are vagabonds, they sell drugs they do not contribute to the economy they are a huge hole in our pockets and they are pestering and have made inaccessible the historical centre of our town . They were not invited, in they stole in with their huge cultural DEFICIENCIES and their health problems. Most African nations should better deal with their own problems that went on well after the whites left them to create chaotic little hells on the face of the earth. Wherever they go they go on doing OBJECTIVELY INHUMANE THINGS such as FEMALE MUTILATION, BLACKMAGIC, HONOUR KILLINGS and if you do not believe me ASK ANY AVERAGE British subject about the problems imported in their own country because of the failures of multiculturalism. You are most welcome to come to Athens to play Mother Tereza and take as many as you lke of nigerian and somali 12 year old poor souls sold as meat to save. The poor girl SPKE THE TRUTH FROM HER HEART AND THE TRUTH HURTS!!!

I laughed when I read the tweet. Yes she should have been smarter, but to ban her from the olympics for being racist is way out of porportion. Africa being the continent of origin for the west nile virus which is commonly spread by mosquitos, makes people who view this comment as being extremely racist look like bigots because of their immediate assumption that she is refering to a race instead of a geographic location. It's 2012 people, I thought we were argueing about gay rights and have moved past racism.

I laughed when I read the tweet. Yes she should have been smarter, but to ban her from the olympics for being racist is way out of porportion. Africa being the continent of origin for the west nile virus which is commonly spread by mosquitos, makes people who view this comment as being extremely racist look like bigots because of their immediate assumption that she is refering to a race instead of a geographic location. It's 2012 people, I thought we were argueing about gay rights and have moved past racism.

The punishment may be severe, but it says a lot to the world. We (mankind) look at such acts without understanding the repercussion of the act for the future of the kids in the world. If it were regarded as just a slap on the wrist, then the world continues on this fatalistic spiraling toward destroying human dignity. Voula is 23, not 16. She shouldn't be exhibiting bad values, she should be exhibitin good values. This is a problem with our youth today, they speak without thinking and then they are role models for who? "Themselves".

If this were a U.S. athlete NO WAY would they be out of the games. Either through lawyers or other means, they would go. In Greece you pay the consequences. In the U.S. you pay the lawyer so you don't have to pay the consequences.

lol; I dont think I've read a more ignorant and dumb post. She's a known hard right winger that has said things in the past about immigrants and illegal aliens in her country, all against people of color.

Twitter should be for people over 30 because when you are under 30, brain cells are rare. 20 somethings are their own worst enemy. It's an age when you think you know it all, and you are totally clueless.

Personally speaking – the girl deserves what she got. Her apology wasn't appealing and to be honest, she seems to be angered by her expulsion NOT embarassed and apologetic for her actions and words. (Don't get me wrong, OF COURSE she should be angered, but how about she try to be a little more apologetic while shes at). Those of you who do not believe that her tweet was racist are not the ones the tweet was directed towards. No matter how you want to spin this, reality is: SHE WAS GOING ONTO THE OLYMPICS TO REPRESENT HER COUNTRY and she chose to tweet a comment to the PUBLIC EYE that she clearly knew would be troublesome. Again, she is a 23 year old woman and not a child who wouldn't know the difference between right and wrong. She could've shared that joke with her friends, family and couch OUTSIDE of the twitter world (where everything and anything is exposed to anyone and everyone..especially when its a tweet coming from a public figure) but she chose not to and regardless of whatever "humor" some of you find in her comment, there are MANY who find it repulsive and disrespectful INCLUDING the Greek Committee.

BY THE WAY: RE-READ HER LATEST STATMENT: …. After so many years of hurt and sacrifices to try and get to my first Olympics I am very bitter and upset.
UM HELLO? "After so many years [of] trying to get to my first Olympics"….. wait, lets stop right there. YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARSSSSSS. SURELY YOU KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU, SURELY YOU KNOW THE GREEK COMMITTEE STANDARDS, SURELY YOU KNOW THE OLYMPIAN STANDARDS- SURELY YOU HAVE HALF A BRAIN TO KNOW THAT YOUR DISTASTEFUL HUMOR SHOULD BE KEPT OUTSIDE OF A SOCIAL NETWORK POST.

I didn't know this about her, but if what you say is true, then she needs to be humbled and this expulsion from competing is perfect to let her know that the world won't stand for her type of behavior.

I live in the US and I am happy to be Native American, but to proud of how this country does things. NO. I am not proud of a place where most lawyers are the demons walking the earth. This is the land of opportunity, but disrespect has been brewing in this country for centuries. No morals, no dignity exist in any corner of the world where a person can say, "I love my heritage". No, this world is a dollar bill and love and charity has been thrown into the sewer, where the good die young.

I almost listened to you Jmark until you say that thing about age. That is my definition of being a bigot, because I'm young, I'm clueless and therefore I'm wrong? My opinion is on the tweet, and the tweet alone, there are no racial slurs, or other obvious racist tones to it. The way I see it is as a a joke, based on location not skin colour. If they wanted to ban her for being a racist, and as you pointed out has done it in the past maybe they should fine something a little better then a single tweet that has no racial undertones to it.

the age comment totally embodies narrow-mindedness that he's criticizing

damn u went ham

Forgiveness is good, but the punishment is appropriate. If your kid did something that was disrespectful, you would hope your child changes. From reading about her, I am under the impression that she admires her discriminating ways by making a habit of saying things about other nationalities and peoples of lesser statute. Being that this is the case, YES, the punishment is fair and she should have been kicked out of the Olympics. You have to remember, she is in a very prestigious position and should always be an exemplar model for others, not a degenerate as she portrayed by making it public for all the world to see.

Chris, listen, learn, and be very still inside, and if you are still alive to tell a story to your grand children, then you have been blessed.

Be foolish in things you say and with your actions and you will pay dearly throughout life.

The term "Olympic spirit" is an oft-referred to but perhaps vaguely-defined concept associated with the Olympic Games. Some media equate it with Pierre de Coubertin's statement that "The important thing is not to win, but to take part", and view athletes who try their best but finish last as epitomizing the "Olympic spirit".

THE OLYMPIC CREED.
Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads:

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

The creed and motto are meant to spur the athletes to embrace the Olympic spirit and perform to the best of their abilities.

The creed does not state anything about an athlete’s political view or comments. It’s about the performance and behavior on the field.

Even if we agree that she was wrong, did it really warrant banning her?

Read this article – Athletes Don't Always Honor Olympic Spirit.

http://www.rferl.org/content/olympics-bad-behavior/24655275.html

Technically, you're right that it isn't racist but it was insensitive and derogatory. I don't think people who put down another group of people just for a few laughs, regardless of whether that group is a race, a nationality, or a special interest group, are good representatives of the fairness and inclusiveness the Olympics are supposed to represent. You wouldn't like it if she had made a derogatory remark about Kentuckians. I think she is unfortunately young and stupid and now she will serve as an object lesson to others.

Comments with any underlying connotations of racism of ANY kind should never be tolerated. It demotes peace and love for and to all nations and all their peoples. I think the Greeks made a very wise decision to show that being disrespectful to others has consequences. Sometimes you HAVE to learn the hard way or you will never learn at all.

WOW, she's an ass

tell me about it!

Spoken like a true non African American. You are probably the same guy Jeff that when Odonnell called the president a tar baby that wasnt' racist either. Ask African people if this isn't racist. She also is a hard line right winger that has spoken out before on people of color. This is a dumb 20 something that should keep her mouth shut. Twitter is showing how dumb these athletes really are. Racist comment that even she has admitted was wrong.

Always cracks me up when arrogant and insensitive people that the comment has nothing to do with tells the other race that it isn't racist. lol

Excuse me, but I am one of the races that live in Africa. Always cracks me up when one race thinks they alone can define what racism is. If Americans had been used in the place of Africans, would it have been racism? This lady is an athlete nothing more. Her tweet could be viewed as possibly insensitive, but it could also be viewed as humorous and nothing more. I find nothing coming forth from her past that would support she has exhibited a pattern of racism and her apology should suffice. This is nothing more than PC insanity once again dividing people.

Jmark, your comment and accusation against me borders on racism itself. What if I said "spoken like a true African American"? I have asked an African, for I have a dear friend who was born, raised and lives in South Africa. Racism is simply limiting or elevating an individual (in whatever form) because of their race. Her comment spoke only of a nationality and to assume race is simply reading somethiing into it that she didn't say. I much prefer to give somone the benefit of the doubt. And Susan, many times derogatory remarks are made about Kentuckians, and sometimes it is true. Either way, I choose not to be offended by everything that comes out of a person's mouth.

Discriminating is just as bad as the so called racism you accuse people of being, Jmark, and from what you are saying you are just that. I'm under 30 and have a perfectly fine mind of my own and I know right from wrong. To say brain cells are rare in 20-somethings is ignorant and moronic.
By the way I don't have a twitter therefore I am not bias when I write this

The punishment is too harsh without even handed her a warning. it's like she was sentence to death with no hearing of her sides. this is ridiculous move by the committee. Jesus also made the same remarks on Samaritan people calling them dogs!
what about it? common man let's give her another chance. she apologized so what's taking her so long to receive forgiveness?

Jmark Ma You are being discriminatory about people under 30 and about the greek athlete!! And on top of it you call ignorant to an respectfull comentator like Chris.

You did a very good analysis. I think she never said that having so much immigrants in Greece is something negativ, neither she said that she hates african people. I seethat many people just hate their own race or their origin, and don`t even tolerate to hear the name (of her race or origin), which in fact is no offense.
To argue discrimination so widely in circumstance that there isn`t leads to dilute it`s meaning.

I don't know if she should be excluded from the Olympics because of a Twitter comment, it would have to be a very offensive and racist one. Now, if one looks at this comment in particular, the expulsion decision is totally unjustified, and clearly it's simply a politically motivated one. The comment makes no mention of races, only of geographical locations. The west Nile mosquitoes do indeed come from Africa and they do indeed feed on the people living there, whatever race they are. There is nothing factually incorrect, there is no racial judgement whatsoever, there was nothing at all wrong with her post. She shouldn't blame herself. On the other hand, I don't want to overgeneralize but from decisions like this one starts to understand how Greece got to where it is today.

I don't know if she should be excluded from the Olympics because of a Twitter comment, it would have to be a very offensive and racist one. Now, if one looks at this comment in particular, the expulsion decision is totally unjustified, and clearly it's simply a politically motivated one. The comment makes no mention of races, only of geographical locations. The west Nile mosquitoes do indeed come from Africa and they do indeed feed on the people living there, whatever race they are. There is nothing factually incorrect, there is no racial judgement whatsoever, there was nothing at all wrong with her post. She shouldn't blame herself. On the other hand, I don't want to overgeneralize but from decisions like this one starts to understand how Greece got to where it is today.

This is ridiculous, there is nothing racist about her tweet at all… its hilarious and witty, and I'm sorry she was treated so badly by the Olympic Commitee

So, it's okay for you to say rude and insensitive things about Americans, but not okay for her to say something rude about Africa?

Deserved! For somebody in a role model position to say something do dumb is just stupid! Olympics are a testament not only to the physical well being of a person but is a test of character! That tweet was childish and for that you pay the price! Sad for her working hard but she should have thought about the consequences before telling a dry joke!

Olympic values? Athletes cheating with performance enhancing drugs, players throwing matches to get better seeds, matches being officiated with regard to nationality and so forth and so on. Olympic values is a joke. Compared to what all goes on with the Olympics, what she did was nothing. Everybody takes themselves way too seriously and nobody has a sense of humor any more. So many people go around with their antenna out just looking for the least little thing to be offended by. To ban her makes an even bigger joke out of the Olympics than they already are. If anything should be banned, its the Olympics itself.

I am not defending what she said. Who would?

But if you are going to ban Olympic athletes for Twitter posts, then there is no use in ever trying to become an Olympian. Should they have silenced her from Tweeting the rest of the Olympics, yes, that would be reasonable. But to ban her is a tragedy to hard work and rewards of that hard work.

The good news is, she is world famous.

I do not know who won the gold in the triple jump at the Olympics, but I know who Voula Papachristou is.