Longtime Olympic commentator Bob Ballard was sent home following a sexist comment about Australia’s women’s swim team.
The Eurosport pundit claimed after the Aussies won a gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle team relay that the celebratory swim squad was slow exiting the pool area because they were milling about vainly.
“You know what women are like,” Ballard said. “Hanging around, doing their makeup.”
Olympics broadcaster Eurosport has removed veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard from duties in Paris after he made an inappropriate remark about the Australian women's swimming team.
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His broadcasting partner Lizzie Simmonds responded “Outrageous, Bob!” and noted men who win medals celebrate, too. The pair then chuckled and moved on.
The BBC reported Sunday that Ballard, one of its own former reporters, was relieved of his duties for the remainder of the 2024 games in Paris. Ballard apologized Monday.
“The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence (sic),” Ballard posted on X. It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and, if I did, I apologise. I am a massive advocate of women’s sport.”
He also asked fans not to blame Simmonds for his indiscretion.
“I shall miss the Eurosport team, dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics,” the 59-year-old television host confessed.
The XXXIII Olympiad began Friday in France with a risqué opening ceremony that included a reenactment of the Biblical Last Supper depicted by drag queens.
Thomas Jolly, the event’s artistic director, called the ceremony a celebration of freedom and inclusion.
“In France, we have the right to love each other, as we want, with whoever we want, in France we have the right to believe and not to believe,” he said during a weekend press conference. “In France, we have many rights.”
