Topless Lebanese skier Jacky Chamoun receives support from Lebanon sports officials

AN OLYMPIC skier depicted in revealing photographs and a video that circulated on the internet said her country’s sports officials are “on my side.’’

A LEBANESE Olympic skier depicted in revealing photographs and a video that circulated on the internet said her country’s sports officials are “on my side.’’

Three years ago, Jacky Chamoun posed for a calendar photo shoot. Behind-the-scenes footage recently was posted online, and Lebanon’s sports and youth minister reportedly ordered an investigation.

But Chamoun said that most people have been “supporting me and defending me.’’

Youssef Chamel Khalil, the administrator of Lebanon’s Olympic Alpine team, said “there is no problem’’ for Chamoun, and she will compete in the Sochi Games.

“It’s OK. In Lebanon, there is a little bit another way to think,’’ Mr Khalil said. “Lebanon is a country of so many cultures.’’

The 22-year-old Chamoun is scheduled to race in the slalom February 21.

Chamoun said the footage that found its way onto the internet was never supposed to surface. She has spoken about the video with photographer Hubertus Von Hohenlohe, the German prince and skier who is competing in his sixth Olympics for Mexico. She said he apologised.

Von Hohenlohe did not immediately respond to an email.

“He’s a really good friend. It’s not his fault,’’ said Chamoun, who’s from Beirut and lives in Geneva. “Not one of us knew that someone was going to search for this and do this. We didn’t expect it at all.’’

Chamoun said she initially was embarrassed the footage was on the internet, but now she has come to terms with it.

“It happened,’’ she said. “I have to go with it.