The quadrennial Olympic crap-fest is about to begin!

Turn down the sound and ignore everything but the sport, kiddies. [Unless the goat rapists rear their cowardly heads and tiny genitalia.]

From Yahoo's Fourth=Place Medal blog:

Olympian booted before Games even begin

Greece's triple-jump champion was expelled from the Olympics after posting a tasteless tweet about Africans and the West Nile virus.

Hellenic Olympic Committee officials announced Voula Papachristou wouldn't travel to London after she tweeted a joke about African immigrants.

On Monday, the track athlete posted a tweet reading, "with so many Africans in Greece, at least the West Nile mosquitos will be eating food from their own home." The comments created an uproar on Greek social media. Papachristou didn't address the criticism on Twitter for two days.

Greece later announced it would place Papchristou "outside the Olympic team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement."


Values outside the Olympic movement? So if she had sold her Twitter account to the highest bidder, went on a McDonald's diet or decided to sit out the Games rather than face a member of a different religion, [See this story below. - F. G.] she'd be cool? Ban her if you want, Greece, but don't pin it on the questionable values of the Olympic movement.

Papachristou's tweet was tasteless, inane, tasteless (again) and not at all funny. But does it deserve Olympic banishment? Look, if you have to parse how racist a statement is, then it's already too racist. But there's still a threshold that needs to be crossed to get into the "we're going to ban you from the Olympics" territory and I'm not sure Papachristou's tweet got there. Unless you think she's suggesting that she wants African Greeks to contract West Nile (I don't think you can't make that assumption based on this tweet), then this is stupid racial humor rather than racism.
 
The nation's Democratic Left disagreed and called for Papachristou's banning. "Watching the Olympics on TV screen," the party wrote, "she could do as many vile 'jokes' she wants through the social media."

So they want her to make racist jokes on Twitter? That's just as offensive!

Papachristou issued a strong apology for her tweet on Wednesday afternoon:

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.

My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.

I would like to apologize to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family.

I ask again: Does she deserve to be banned from the Olympics? This is no defense of Papachristou. The tweet was stupid and misguided, at best. But if this is about teaching and tolerance, then doesn't letting her compete make more sense? She's contrite about the incident. In theory, she could do more good by being on the world's biggest stage rather than being left behind in Athens.

Meanwhile, good for Greek politicians for keeping an eye on the important stuff, like the Twitter accounts of triple jumpers. I can think of literally nothing else in the country that deserves attention.

 The Religion of Peace, Love, and Sportsmanship strikes again...

Also from Fouth-Place Medal:

Iranians fear Israeli judo team too

 Iran said on Monday that its athletes would compete against Israelis in the Olympics, a historic reversal from its current policy prohibiting its Olympians from such competitions.

But, oops, the only Iranian athlete who could have possibly faced an Israeli opponent at the Olympics withdrew from the Games one day earlier. What strange and unfortunate timing!

Javad Mahjoob, a judo champion competing in the 100-kg weight class, pulled out of the Olympics due to a "critical digestive system infection." Had Mahjoob remained in the competition, he could have faced Israel's Ariel "Arik" Ze'evi, a 2004 bronze medalist.

Mahjoob has said he's thrown matches in the past to avoid fighting an Israeli. His theory: It's better to lose on purpose rather than withdraw from a fight against an Israeli, an act which could bring a four-year suspension.

He was the only Iranian who could have faced off against an Israeli in London.
One day after Mahjoob's withdrawal, Iran's Olympic chief said the nation's athletes would comply with IOC rules and compete against any competitors from any country. That was a change from 2004 and 2008 when athletes from Iran withdrew instead of facing Israelis. Knowing that Mahjoob wouldn't be competing, these comments were akin to a tennis player guaranteeing that he won't lose to Rafael Nadal in the Olympic tennis competition.

"We will be truthful to sport," said Bahram Afsharzadeh, presumably while crossing his fingers and toes. "We just follow the sportsmanship and play every country."

Afsharzadeh's comments were in response to a toothless claim by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge that countries and athletes would be punished for avoiding competition based on nationality, race or religion.

"If nation A does not appear at the competition against nation B, we will ask for explanations," Rogge said. "If the explanation is not satisfactory and valid at the end of it and is not credible, then we will go into cross-examination by an independent medical board. And if the medical board says it is not a genuine reason, then sanctions will be taken. That is quite clear."

Yeah, you hear that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?! If you don't provide an explanation deemed credible, then the independent medical board will cross-examine you and then if it finds no good reason for your withdrawal -- BOOM! -- you may get a slap on the wrist. With steep consequences like that, the only reasonable thing is to assume that Mahjoob's ailment is real and that there's absolutely no way he could have been ready by the start of his judo competition in nine days.

Some anti-Zionists just have no luck.