DEBATE: Should Olympic Athlete Voula Papachristou Have Been Removed From Games For Controversial Tweet?
A top athlete was banned from the Olympic games because of some recent tweets she sent out from her personal account. Triple jumper Voula Papachristou, from Greece, has been removed by the Hellenic Olympic committee because of a tweet she wrote that sparked a firestorm of criticism, causing many people to say it was racist in nature.
Earlier this week, the 23-year-old posted on her twitter, “With so many Africans in Greece … At least the mosquittos of West Nile … will eat homemade food.” Later, she issued an apology, “I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.”
Jonna Spilbor and Arthur Aidalia joined America Live today for Kelly’s Court to discuss whether or not this is fair for the athlete.
Spilbor said, “Rules are rules. I think if you’re an Olympic athlete, it’s not just about how fast you can run or
how high you can jump. You have to be the entire package, and the Olympic committees have a set of rules and charters and by-laws that you as an athlete are not to offend and she offended them; she’s got to go.”
Although Aidala thought it was a stupid thing to say, he said, “I don’t think what she said was so horrible that she deserves the death penalty, which is basically what she got.”
He asked Spilbor, “Don’t you think it would’ve been more appropriate if they banned her from the opening ceremonies and the closing ceremonies, but allowed her to do what she was there to do?”
Spilbor responded, “There’s a hundred people right behind her that will take her place happily who didn’t offend.”
