Goes to show this mind-set is still out there, no matter how much women excel, and frankly, I am appalled by it! Taking away from the talent of the Australian women's swim team and how they kicked A$$ setting a new Olympic record! They deserved every second of time they took to celebrate the win at the Olympic Aquatic Center. And his statement is certainly NOT an apology... "The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offense. It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and, if I did, I apologize. I am a massive advocate of women’s sport,” Ballard wrote. “I shall miss the Eurosport team dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics. No further comment will be issued. Thank you.”
I would love your thoughts!
A European Olympics broadcaster’s comment about the Australian women’s swimming team on Saturday cost him his spot in Paris.
Bob Ballard, who was covering the Paris Summer Games for Eurosport, talked about what "women are like" in reference to the Australian team after they won the 4x100-meter freestyle.
"Well, the women are just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup," Ballard said, per the New York Post.
His co-commentator and British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds had immediately branded his remark "outrageous", prompting laughter from Ballard. Eurosport removed Ballard from their Olympics coverage afterward.
"During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment," the company said in a statement, per The Independent. "To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect."
Ballard didn’t immediately comment on the controversy.
He’s been a staple for Olympics coverage for several years and was a freelance broadcaster for BBC as well.
Australia’s relay team made up of Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O'Callaghan and Meg Harris won the gold medal in Saturday’s 4x100-meter relay, defeating the United States and China. The team set an Olympic record with a time of 3:28.92.
