An Olympics commentator has broken his silence after he was axed from Eurosport for making a sexist remark.
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have been marred by controversy even before the Games were fully underway.
From contentious player selections to a criticized Opening Ceremony, the event has faced its share of challenges. The latest issue involves sports commentator Bob Ballard, who sparked outrage with a sexist remark during EuroSport’s coverage of the women’s 4x100m freestyle race on July 27.
As Australia’s team—comprising Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris—celebrated their gold medal victory, Ballard made an inappropriate comment.
Addressing his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds, Ballard remarked: “Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
Although Simmonds briefly laughed, she promptly labeled the comment as “outrageous,” and viewers quickly echoed her sentiment.
Ballard has now taken to X to comment on the controversy, writing: "To all my new followers, I am quite boring really, I am not normally the subject of a news story that’s gone worldwide. Thanks for adding me."
He previously thanked those who had supported him amid the backlash, stating: "Things are tough right now but with your messages / it’s made life bearable."
In any case, the backlash on social media was swift. TikTok user @thelifeoflyds shared a clip of the comment, noting: “Casual sexism being thrown around on the swimming coverage.”
Reposting the video, X user @AGoonersThought criticized Ballard’s remark, stating: “Setting women's sports back. Bob Ballard.”
Another user tweeted: “Bob Ballard hang your head in shame and get off the broadcast and back to the 1930s. Commentating for EuroSport he’s used a sexist slur as the Aussie women RIGHTLY celebrated together.”
In response to the uproar, EuroSport issued a statement confirming that Ballard had been removed from its commentary team.
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The decision to remove Ballard has sparked a mixed reaction. Some viewers on X have expressed support for him, suggesting that his comment was a “joke” or “banter” and criticizing the response as an overreach of "woke culture."
Ballard, a fixture in sports commentary since the 1980s, has covered numerous World Championships and Olympic events across various sports including swimming, diving, water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.