In a surprising turn of events, Eurosport has decided to part ways with commentator Bob Ballard during the ongoing Olympic Games in Paris.
This decision follows a controversial remark he made about Australia’s female swimmers.
Bob Ballard, a seasoned commentator, found himself in hot water after making a sexist comment about the Australian women’s swimming team.
After the team secured a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Ballard remarked on-air, “Well, the women just finishing up.
You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
The remark quickly gained traction on social media, sparking a wave of criticism.
Eurosport didn’t waste any time addressing the situation. In a statement, they condemned Ballard’s comment as inappropriate and announced his immediate removal from their commentary roster.
Lizzie Simmonds, who was commentating alongside Ballard, labeled his comment as “outrageous.”
As of now, Ballard has not publicly responded to the backlash.
This incident is particularly jarring given that Paris organizers have branded the Games as ‘The Equal Games,’ celebrating the milestone of women constituting 50% of the participants.