Announcer Sacked for Sexist Comment During Olympics (Poll Included)

 

Eurosport has excluded a commentator from its Paris Olympics coverage due to an "inappropriate" remark about women. 

British journalist Bob Ballard commented after Australia's victory in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay on Saturday, saying, "Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like ... hanging around, doing their makeup."

Co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds, a former British Olympian, reacted live to the comment, labeling it as "outrageous."

Eurosport have now dropped Bob Ballard as swimming commentator following this sexist remark yesterday.

“Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like … hanging around, doing their makeup.”
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— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 29, 2024

In a statement on Sunday, Eurosport addressed the incident, stating, "During a segment of Eurosport's coverage, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment." Furthermore, they announced Ballard's immediate removal from their commentary team.

Eurosport, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, holds the primary Olympic broadcasting rights in Europe with sublicensing agreements with national public networks.

Ballard is a former long-serving Olympic broadcaster for the BBC, which has sublicensing deals to broadcast a limited number of events. deals to broadcast a limited number of events.