Paris (29) — Eurosport has removed a commentator from its Olympic swimming coverage after he made an “inappropriate” remark about women.
British journalist Bob Ballard sparked controversy on Saturday following Australia’s victory in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay. His comment, “Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup,” drew criticism for its sexist undertones.
Co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds, a former British Olympic swimmer, described Ballard’s remark as “outrageous” during the broadcast.
In response, Eurosport issued a statement on Sunday saying, “During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment. To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Eurosport, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, holds the primary Olympic broadcasting rights in Europe and has sub-licensing agreements with various national public networks.
