KUALA LUMPUR – A Eurosport commentator has been sacked “with immediate effect” after making a sexist remark about Australian women swimmers.
Bob Ballard drew a lot of flak on social media after saying that women like “hanging around doing their make-up.”
It is understood that Ballard made the comment shortly after Australia’s quartet of Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Mollie O’Callaghan, and Meg Harris secured the 4x100m freestyle relay gold in the ongoing Paris Olympics.
“Well, the women are just finishing up,” said Ballard, who has previously covered sports events for BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT.
“You know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make-up.”
This has led the broadcaster to remove Ballard from further assignments at the Olympics.
During the Games’ opening ceremony, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach hailed the 2024 Olympics as the most “inclusive” of its kind.
“All of us will experience Olympic Games that are more inclusive, more urban, younger, and more sustainable,” he said.
“The first Olympic Games with full gender parity on the field of play.” – July 29, 2024