We're just a few days into the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and we've already seen more controversy to last us four years until the next games.
From the controversial player choice for the Dutch volleyball team to the widely criticized Opening Ceremony, the Paris games have been making headlines for the wrong reasons thus far.
And, sadly, the controversy has continued thank to sports commentator Bob Ballard - who had been providing commentary for EuroSport during the women's 4x100m freestyle race on Saturday (July 27).
During the race, Australia's team of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris successfully won the gold medal in the event. However, rather than commenting on the win, former BBC commentator Ballard offered a sexist remark to his co-host, Lizzie Simmonds.
"Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like... hanging around, doing their make-up," he said.
Although Simmonds briefly laughed at the remark, she was quick to label Ballard's comments as "outrageous". And it appears that viewers agreed with her.
"Casual sexism being thrown around on the swimming coverage," wrote TikTok user @thelifeoflyds, sharing a clip of the moment.
Reposting the video, X user @AGoonersThought added: "Setting women's sports back. Bob Ballard."
Another X 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."
Following the backlash, 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," the statement read. "To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
On X, Ballard has received an outpouring of support from some viewers, with many believing that he shouldn't have been removed over "a joke" and "banter". Others described his removal as a backlash of "woke culture".
Ballard has been a regular voice in the sporting world since the 1980s - providing commentary for a number of World Championships and Olympic events. According to his X profile, he provides commentary on a number of events, including swimming, diving, water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.
Despite being active on X during this year's games, he is yet to speak out publically about his release from EuroSport.