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And now the next incident... this time about an athlete's partner, not the athlete herself. Legolas Send a noteboard - 03/08/2012 09:47:27 PM
BERLIN -- German Olympic officials said Friday that a rower had left the London Games after a broadcaster reported that her boyfriend is a supporter of an extreme right-wing party in Germany.

Nadja Drygalla, a member of the women's eight crew, planned to leave the Olympic village to avoid any "burden for the Olympic team," said Michael Vesper, general director of the national Olympic association.

Vesper said he and German rowing officials met with Drygalla, who "stressed credibly" she is "committed to the values of the Olympic charter."

International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said he did not think it was an issue for the IOC "because she hasn't said or done anything related to the games."

Drygalla was done competing at the games after the women's eight team failed to make Thursday's final.

Drygalla is a former police trainee. The state interior ministry in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said it learned last year that her acquaintances included people who belong to the far-right scene.

A ministry statement said that "intensive talks" were held with Drygalla and she resigned from the force last September.


Note: I just took the first English article I came across, which was the Huff Post; they have one, rather tendentious article of their own, followed by the AP one that I posted above.
Huffington Post
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Am I the only one who thinks Voula Papachristou should not have been kicked out of the Olympics? - 25/07/2012 10:55:19 PM 1504 Views
Being on a country's Olympic team is a privilege, not a right - 25/07/2012 11:00:24 PM 975 Views
So banning blacks would be cool if it was legal in that country? - 25/07/2012 11:08:52 PM 1111 Views
If that's how the country wants to run itself - 25/07/2012 11:13:04 PM 988 Views
The IOC can ban nations from participating for that sort of stunt. - 25/07/2012 11:33:23 PM 1138 Views
So that excuses thought control? - 25/07/2012 11:49:58 PM 1056 Views
If Hitler could let Jesse Owens run... - 25/07/2012 11:07:19 PM 1189 Views
Yes. Political power should not be used to enforce morals. - 25/07/2012 11:53:19 PM 910 Views
The national Olympic Committees aren't the government. - 26/07/2012 12:02:43 AM 902 Views
Even worse. - 26/07/2012 12:08:05 AM 957 Views
Erm - 26/07/2012 12:29:32 AM 986 Views
I fail to see how the whole team would be thrown out. - 26/07/2012 12:41:16 AM 981 Views
Because the IOC throws them out if the national government interferes in the national committe. *NM* - 26/07/2012 12:43:39 AM 525 Views
Well, that's absurd. - 26/07/2012 01:09:41 AM 1057 Views
As with most things, I doubt the practice matches the theory - 26/07/2012 10:45:55 AM 953 Views
Africans != illegals - 25/07/2012 11:19:32 PM 1031 Views
Specious reasoning. - 26/07/2012 12:07:08 AM 891 Views
Who are you to decide that? - 26/07/2012 12:16:45 AM 1053 Views
I'm not the one deciding. - 26/07/2012 12:36:17 AM 896 Views
Essentially you're saying "there are lots of racists in Europe". - 26/07/2012 08:28:26 AM 1010 Views
That's an oversimplification. - 29/07/2012 03:13:14 AM 963 Views
You stated it as a fact. - 26/07/2012 07:49:58 PM 943 Views
I think any organisation should have the right to choose who represents them - 25/07/2012 11:20:36 PM 955 Views
Well, but that's not the end of it. - 26/07/2012 12:12:09 AM 1015 Views
It is for me - 26/07/2012 12:26:25 AM 935 Views
So...conformity ahead? *NM* - 26/07/2012 12:40:03 AM 454 Views
Is that all that happened? - 25/07/2012 11:28:17 PM 916 Views
That and some pro-Golden Dawn statements. - 26/07/2012 12:14:25 AM 1107 Views
For me it is more than enough - 26/07/2012 12:32:35 AM 865 Views
It's not what happened to her that I typically waver on. - 27/07/2012 03:08:45 PM 906 Views
It's not a matter of freedom of expression - 26/07/2012 09:49:59 PM 1108 Views
This. *NM* - 26/07/2012 10:26:37 PM 472 Views
I oppose censorship even if it is not comng from the government - 26/07/2012 10:16:30 PM 945 Views
How is it censorship? - 27/07/2012 02:33:30 AM 1055 Views
try looking up the word censorship and ask yourself would their actions supress speech - 27/07/2012 02:59:11 AM 1165 Views
I know the definition thank you. How exactly was her communication suppressed? - 27/07/2012 05:54:39 PM 1081 Views
you are right public punishment of political expression could never been seen as suppression - 27/07/2012 06:20:15 PM 1177 Views
Well - 27/07/2012 07:20:27 PM 978 Views
Where did she ever imply she wanted them to be bitten? *NM* - 27/07/2012 08:03:05 PM 539 Views
Hello earth.... "food from home". - 27/07/2012 08:26:15 PM 905 Views
OK I repeat my question: Where did she she WANTED them to be bit? - 30/07/2012 09:07:01 PM 1225 Views
Um, she referred to them as food? - 27/07/2012 08:38:22 PM 980 Views
No what is silly is inferring that she hoped they would be bitten *NM* - 30/07/2012 09:09:18 PM 589 Views
No what is silly is inferring that she hoped they would be bitten *NM* - 30/07/2012 09:09:27 PM 504 Views
I'm with you on this - I don't think she wanted them to be bitten. - 27/07/2012 09:02:05 PM 975 Views
It was insensitive at best - 30/07/2012 09:25:06 PM 1527 Views
One problem. - 27/07/2012 04:54:52 AM 943 Views
Exactly - 27/07/2012 12:05:14 PM 938 Views
I know you said it but do you actually believe it? - 27/07/2012 01:56:35 PM 946 Views
It's a good question, but yes, I do. - 27/07/2012 02:42:28 PM 971 Views
Are going to ban everyone and everyone country who says something about anyone else? - 27/07/2012 04:47:51 PM 883 Views
Yes, that is clearly exactly what I said. - 27/07/2012 05:10:37 PM 927 Views
i have a feeling you are being influenced by that pic they run with all the articles about her? - 27/07/2012 02:14:13 PM 936 Views
Surely you don't think... - 27/07/2012 02:57:47 PM 841 Views
Heh. - 27/07/2012 05:53:07 PM 1094 Views
Typo? There are limits to our credulity... or to mine, anyway. - 27/07/2012 06:27:44 PM 966 Views
Looks like Voula Papachristou agrees with Tom - 27/07/2012 07:09:30 PM 1015 Views
Quite understandable. But so's the Greek OC's decision. - 27/07/2012 07:11:31 PM 979 Views
And now a Swiss footabller has gone as well - 30/07/2012 08:22:45 PM 973 Views
That's just poor sportsmanship. *NM* - 30/07/2012 08:53:53 PM 625 Views
And now the next incident... this time about an athlete's partner, not the athlete herself. - 03/08/2012 09:47:27 PM 1042 Views
And an Australian athlete has been sent home now - 04/08/2012 10:12:12 AM 808 Views

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