Greek TV presenter fired after racist comment about Korean Olympic athlete

South Korea's Jeoung Youngsik reacts during the table tennis men's singles third round match against Greece's Panagiotis Gionis at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Greek state television broadcaster ERT fired a presenter from its Olympic morning show on Tuesday (July 27) due to a racist comment.

Dimosthenis Karmoiris was reporting on the victory of South Korean table tennis athlete Jeoung Young-sik against Greece's Panagiotis Gionis when Karmoiris said he could not understand how "these people can follow the ball back and forth with these narrow eyes".

Immediately after the comment, a wave of indignation against Karmoiris broke out on social media.

A few hours later, the management of the state television announced Karmoiris' dismissal on the grounds that racist comments would not be tolerated.

Karmoiris had already been criticised on Monday, when he said that Greek shooter Anna Korakaki had "messed it up" at these Olympic Games. The 2016 Olympian finished sixth in the 10-metre air pistol shooting competition. – AP