Cypriot MEP Fidias Panayiotou has apologized for using offensive language to describe Paralympic athletes with mental disabilities.
“The first thing I want to say is that I should not have used this word to characterize anyone — any disability, disorder or illness,” the lawmaker said in a video posted on social media on Tuesday. “I want to publicly acknowledge my mistake and make a sincere apology to Paralympic athletes.”
In November, Panayiotou referred to Paralympic athletes with mental disabilities as πελλοί, or “loonies,” during a six-hour podcast with a Cypriot Paralympic swimmer. The remarks resurfaced months later, prompting a furious reaction from Cyprus’ Paralympic Committee on Sunday.