Tweet Your Chances Goodbye

SARAH TAKHAR

Staff Writer

The Olympics’ purpose is to promote friendly competition between the different countries of the world. It allows everyone to watch and participate without worry of discrimination. So if a tweet might be interpreted as belittlement to another ethnic group, it will create trouble for the athlete.

“With so many Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat homemade food!” When Voula Papachristou posted this “joke” on Twitter, she did not think it would receive a backlash, which leads one to wonder, how could it not? As a competitor of the games, she, more than anyone, should know that such a statement would not be tolerated by the media.

Even though the tweet was not directed at the games or any of its competitors, it was not something that could be bypassed. The nature of the comment was inappropriate in all situations, not just because of the games. Had it been ignored, it would have contradicted everything the Olympics stood for. Basically, while the officials of the Olympics say that the world can be united for a friendly competition, their actions, however, would have said that it is also acceptable to make discriminatory remarks.

After Papachristou posted the tweet, the Greek Olympic Committee felt it was necessary to remove her from the team. This would have been her first time competing in the Olympics, had not one bad joke caused her to lose it all.

Though it seems harsh to expel her, it was necessary and  was  the best possible course of action. If Papachristou received leniency, the situation could have provoked more conflicts later on during the games. Having the outcome be what the officials decided on was for the best. That way everyone would know that discrimination is not to be tolerated.