IOC insists London Games still ‘social media Olympics’ despite Twitter rows

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London, Aug.1: The International Olympics Committee (IOC) doesn’t regret branding London Games as ‘social media Olympics’ even though two athletes have been expelled over remarks made on Twitter.

IOC said some 15 million social media fans are following the Olympics and their involvement is positively encouraged.

This comes after Switzerland footballer Michel Morganella became the second competitor to be expelled from the Games for directing an allegedly racist insult at South Koreans on Twitter.
Triple jumper Voula Papachristou was not even allowed to travel to the Olympics after posting a message, which ridiculed African immigrants.

Police are also investigating after British diver Tom Daley was sent a series of malicious messages that led to an arrest.

Mark Adams, the IOC’s communications director, has snubbed suggestion that he regretted dubbing London 2012 the ‘social media Olympics’.

“The IOC, the Olympics, we have about 15 million social media fans; we are encouraging people to take part in social media; I know that Locog are doing similar things,” The Daily Star quoted Adam, as saying.

“To be frank, it would be a little bit like King Canute if we said, ‘No, these aren’t the social media games’, because everyone has decided they are anyway. We will help people have a good time and social media is a new way of doing that, so fine,” he added. (ANI)