Olympic competitor Voula Papachristou has been removed from the Greek national team posts she made racist remarks on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for the fascist Golden Dawn Party.
The 23-year-old triple jumper was set to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games beginning this Friday, but has now been expelled by the Greek Olympic Committee. According to the BBC, the committee stated that Papachristou has been "placed outside the Olympic team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement."
Papachristou has since removed the controversial tweets and has issued a public apology on her Twitter and Facebook accounts.
"I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account," she wrote in an extended post.
"I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights."
The website Keep Talking Greece translated the offensive tweet by Papachristou (@papaxristoutj):
"With so many Africans in Greece... At least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!!!"
Papachristou also came under fire posting a link to Golden Dawn politician Ilias Kasidiaris - infamously known for slapping a female member of the Communist Party on live television - that criticized Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' stance on immigration.
The Golden Dawn Party has vehemently opposed immigration into Greece, particularly from the Middle East and Africa, and its supporters have been accused of numerous hate crimes targeting immigrants and ethnic minorities.
"My dream is connected to the Olympic Games, and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values," Papachristou continued in her written apology. "Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races."
