UPDATE: Lebanese skier says country supports her despite topless video

Published Feb. 12, 2014 7:47 a.m. ET

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UPDATE: 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 in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press that most people have been "supporting me and defending me."

Click here for more on this story.

Jackie Chamoun is one of only two athletes from Lebanon competing in the Olympics. Suffice to say the spotlight on her is pretty bright in her conservative homeland.

So when and if a video of the skier topless surfaces on the Internet, one would expect all hell to break loose in Lebanon.

Well, it did. And it has.

Chamoun, a 22-year-old skier, three years ago posed for a calendar which annually features male and female skiers in little or no clothing, with just strategic placement of limbs and equipment leaving something for the imagination. At the time, it was reportedly scandalous enough.

But earlier this week, a video surfaced on YouTube showing behind-the-scenes footage from the shoot, with some frames including shots of Chamoun's bare breasts. And though Chamoun has yet to even compete in Sochi, she is firmly entrenched in a firestorm back home.

• Lebanon's sports minister, Farsal Karami, has reportedly called for an investigation into the photo shoot, fearful of its impact on the nation's reputation.

• The Lebanese Olympic Committee released a statement, saying it would not seek to have Chamoun removed from the Olympics.

• Chamoun posted an apology to her Facebook page, contending the behind-the-scenes footage was never supposed to be seen by the public.

To see the video, click here.

H/t: Fourth-Place Medal

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