Przemysław Babiarz, a journalist with Polish public broadcaster TVP Sport was suspended by his bosses following his public commentary on the song "Imagine" by John Lennon during the Olympic opening ceremony.
"A world without heaven, nations, or religions. This is a vision of peace that is supposed to encompass everyone. It is a vision of communism, unfortunately," said Babiarz during the event on Friday.
Jakub Kwiatkowski, head of TVP Sport, said on Monday that Babiarz was "suspended, not fired," asserting that sports commentary should be apolitical to foster unity and positive emotions among viewers.
Kwiatkowski's statement detailed his belief in sports as a medium that transcends personal beliefs, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Kwiatkowski said: "From the beginning of my tenure at TVP Sport, I have viewed it as my duty not only to my superiors but to all our viewers to maintain this standard."
He expressed regret over the incident, and said that he had "personally advocated" for Babiarz’s inclusion in the team.
"I had a discussion with Przemek and believed he could separate his personal views from his work," Kwiatkowski said. "Unfortunately, that was not the case, so I can no longer defend him and have accepted the decision by the management of Telewizja Polska (TVP)."
The incident has prompted the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to initiate an investigation to determine if Babiarz's suspension infringed on his constitutional right to free speech.
This follows a protest from the Association of Polish Journalists (SDP), which criticized the suspension as a sign of censorship and mismanagement by TVP.
The SDP's statement fiercely defended Babiarz, interpreting his comments as merely an observation on societal trends visible even in sporting events, and criticized TVP's management for what they view as a politically motivated decision that threatens journalistic ethics and freedom.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP/PAP
