(CNN) -- Athlete Paraskevi Papachristou has been expelled from Greece's Olympic team for posting an offensive comment about African immigrants on Twitter, a team spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"With so many Africans in Greece, the mosquitoes from the West Nile will at least be eating some homemade food," Papachristou said on Twitter.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee ruled Papachristou, a triple jumper, would be barred from participating in the London Olympics that begin Friday.
"She made a mistake but it was serious," the spokesman said. "It was unforgivable."
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Papachristou apologized for making the remarks about African immigrants but her medal hopes were gone.
"I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account," she wrote on Facebook.
"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."
Papachristou's Twitter post drew public criticism and calls for her to be suspended from the Greek Olympic team.
Two of the three parties forming Greece's coalition government also issued statements on the matter.
The Democratic Left said that "this racist humor and 'jokes' that affect human lives are not tolerated by Greek society, (and) they cannot flourish in Greek athletics."
The socialist PASOK party said "matters that are to do with the human status should not be treated lightly by anyone and especially from the members of the sports community, who are symbols to young people."
Greek media reported that Papachristou has in the past posted comments about the extreme right wing Golden Dawn party.
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CNN's Elinda Labropoulou contributed to this report.
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Japanese fans show support for their team during the men's first-round match between Spain and Japan at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday.
Great Britain's Craig Bellamy celebrates a goal during the first round Group A Match between Great Britain and Senegal on Thursday, July 26, in Manchester, England.
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Great Britain fans attend the Group A Match between Great Britain and Senegal on Thursday in Manchester.
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An open double-deck bus carries the Olympic torch down Oxford Street on Thursday in London.
Morocco's Houssine Kharja, right, controls the ball against Honduras' Roger Espinoza during a first-round Group D match Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland.
Ismail Matar, center, of the United Arab Emirates celebrates with his teammates after scoring in a first-round Group A match against Uruguay on Thursday in Manchester, England.
Spain's Juan Mata, left, challenges Hotaru Yamaguchi of Japan during a group D soccer match Thursday in Glasgow.
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A Mexican fan watches the men's soccer match Thursday between Mexico and South Korea in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Spain's Inigo Martinez, left, fouls Kensuke Nagai of Japan during the match Thursday.
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Spectators take pictures Thursday at the Olympic Village in London.
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Security personnel patrol in front of Olympic Park in London on Thursday, a day ahead of the opening ceremony. Security concerns surfaced when a private contractor failed to provide enough staff. As a result, the government is deploying 18,200 troops to remedy the shortfall.
The Honduras men's soccer team celebrates after scoring a goal against Morocco during a first-round match Thursday.
Honduras' Jose Velasquez, left, gets challenged by Zakaria Labyad of Morocco during Thursday's match.
Police patrol Westfield Stratford City shopping mall near London Olympic Park on Thursday.
Spectators gather as the Olympic torch is carried from Islington Town Hall on Thursday. London cheered on the torch as it made its way past the city's historic landmarks.
Amanda Clark of the U.S. sailing team chats with reporters Thursday during a press conference in Weymouth, England.
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Tower Bridge, adorned with the Olympic rings, is seen late Wednesday, two days before the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Hazleydi Rincon of Colombia and Kim Song Hui of North Korea chase the ball in a first-round women's football match.
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North Korea's Kim Song Hui, in white, vies with Colombia's Natalia Ariza on July 25.
North Korea's Jon Myong Hwa, in white, vies with Colombia's Sandra Sepulveda, in green, and Orianica Velasquez , in yellow, during first-round women's soccer play at Hampden Park on July 25.
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North Korean soccer coach Gun Sin Ui, at center in red shirt, waits for his team's match to begin at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday, July 25. The first-round match against Colombia was delayed.
North Korean official Son Kwang-ho waits for the match against Colombia to begin.
Brazil's Marta, No. 10, is tackled by Christine Manie of Cameroon during the first-round women's soccer match on July 25.
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American Carli Lloyd celebrates with teammate Amy Le Peilbet after scoring her team's third goal.
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An Olympic lane at the Embankment in London.
France's Louisa Necib, left, is challenged by American Carli Lloyd.
Amber Hearn of New Zealand shoots for a goal.
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