Paris: A veteran sports commentator has been dramatically ousted from his role at the Olympics following a sexist comment about Australian female swimmers that ignited a firestorm of criticism and went viral online.
The incident occurred as the Australian 4x100m freestyle relay team was leaving the pool deck in Paris. Bob Ballard, a seasoned voice in sports broadcasting, offhandedly remarked that the swimmers were "finishing up," adding, "you know what women are like... hanging around, doing their makeup." His comment quickly spread across social media, prompting Eurosport to take swift action by removing him from their commentary team.
Le commentateur sportif
Bob Ballard a été suspendu par la chaîne Eurosport après une remarque "inappropriée" pendant l'épreuve féminine de 4x100 mètres. Les femmes viennent de terminer Vous savez comment sont les femmes: elles traînent,elles s'occupent de leur maquillage" pic.twitter.com/cImTU39SEH
The gold-winning team, consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack, had just defeated formidable competitors from the US and China, securing Australia's fourth consecutive Olympic gold in the event. The swimmers were basking in their victory, waving to the jubilant crowd, when Mr. Ballard's ill-judged comments were made.
Co-commentator and British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds immediately condemned his remarks as "outrageous," a response that Ballard met with laughter. The backlash was swift, and by Sunday, Eurosport announced that Ballard, a former long-time BBC reporter and presenter, would no longer feature in their broadcasts.
"During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment," the broadcaster stated. "To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
Ballard, a fixture in global sports coverage since the 1980s, has reported on numerous Olympic Games and World Championships. He has lent his voice to various sports, including water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis, but is best known for his coverage of swimming and diving.
In light of the controversy, Swimming Australia has been approached for comment, though no response has been made public yet.
This incident has not only sparked a conversation about sexism in sports commentary but also highlighted the swift repercussions for public figures who make inappropriate remarks.
