The 2012 Olympics

[Hunny]

Kicked out for a racist tweet: Greek triple jumper is banned from the Games after her African 'joke'



A Greek triple jumper has been expelled from the Olympics after she posted a racist joke on Twitter.

Voula Papachristou was kicked out of her national team for mocking African
migrants and expressing support for a far-Right political party.

Her offending message – which was referring to reports of mosquitoes
carrying the West Nile virus in her home country – read: ‘With so many
Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!’
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///NOTE: Is it just me, or did she actually say something harmless and they made things out of it??///

[Big Lin]

I don't agree with this. I might dislike her politics but this is pretty pathetic.

[Big Lin]

I watched the opening ceremony last night; the beginning was brilliant (10 out of 10), the doves on bikes too (10 out of 10) and the lighting the flame (10 out of 10).

The middle was a bit more variable. I found parts of it a bit wacky and others (particularly the Rowan Atkinson bits) downright embarrassing.

The low point for me was seeing Paul Macartney pretending to sing when what little voice he ever had went years ago.

Overall I'd give the show as a whole 8 out of 10 - maybe even 9 out of 10.

Anyone else watch it?

Any thoughts?

Such a disappointment in the cycling road race today!

[krickitt]

SO-- Choudary and his gang of extremists get to hang out and protest the "west", but this silly girl is out.. stupid. That was not racist, either, just dumb. Kids say dumb things.. we all do sometimes. The mistake is EVER thinking you have privacy on internet, etc..

[sadie1263]

Ridiculous all the way around!!!

[Deleted]

I liked Rowan Atkinson, Lin: a bit of humour was very timely. I was less impressed by the rural yokels at the beginning, and the leaping about sick children was unimpressive.

As for the Greek athlete...I'm not sure I even understood the joke. What did she mean about home made food?

[sadie1263]

referring to the African athletes being "their food"

[sadie1263]

What do you think of this deal?



Heading to the London Olympics this summer? Perhaps you'll get a craving for french fries amidst watching the various games. It'll be no problem getting the fries (chips rather, once you're in London), but you might not have much choice in vendors. McDonald's has the exclusive rights to sell french fries. The one exception to this is if the fries are sold as part of a fish and chips deal. In other words, if you want fries on your own, the only place you can go within the Olympic grounds is McDonald's.

Moreover, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) had to get permission from McDonald's to sell fish and chips.

While this may seem a bit extreme to some, this is far from the first time a company has had exclusive rights to a given food product at a sports event. This year, the popular New York restaurant Parm was banned from selling turkey sandwiches at Yankee Stadium. Why? Boar's Head supposedly has exclusive turkey-selling rights.

It's sort of too bad if you don't care much for McDonald's fries, but at least you can say that you've bought something at the world's largest McDonald's.

[Deleted]

It was a racist remark though. However, being kicked out of the Olympics was too harsh a punishment I feel.

I do think this will make others think twice about making such remarks in the future (hopefully). Just can't do that in what is, after all, an international competition and with all countries looking on.

[Deleted]

btw... from the clips I saw of the ceremony, I thought it was great. I can't help but wonder if the millions spent on it would not have been better spent elsewhere for the good of the country and people? But that's just how I see things...

[Big Lin]

Well, of course people always say things like that - not just about things like the Olympics but about money spent on art, literature and so.

My feeling is that it's a once in a lifetime event and I don't mind the money that's been spent.

I also would rather my government spent money on something enjoyable and entertaining rather than the rubbish they normally waste it on.

Of course everything in life has its place; food and water are the two most essential things in life.

But once we get beyond the subsistence level what's wrong with a little bit of razzle?

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2012 14:37:46 GMT sadie1263 said:

referring to the African athletes being "their food"

But if the athletes are in Greece are the West Nile mosquitos also there?

Geography was never my strong subject ,but....

[Big Lin]

Surely the athletes are in London? (Unless they've got lost somewhere along the way?)

[Deleted]

I assume she meant living in Greece; people who have migrated. But that is part of the reason why I didn't fully understand the point of the so-called joke.

[sadie1263]

It was just a ridiculous remark to make in a public forum.......(twitter).......you know people are going to scrutinize everything you say and do.