Olympics commentator dropped over sexist comments about women’s swim team
Following the conclusion of Sunday’s 4x100 meter freestyle relay, during which Team Australia won the gold medal, Ballard commented on the team’s apparent delay in exiting the Paris Aquatic Centre as they celebrated.
“Well, the women just finishing off. You know what women are like, hanging around, doing their makeup,” Ballard said.
Lizzie Simmonds, the former Olympian and his Eurosport co-host, immediately rebuffed his comments.
“Outrageous, Bob,” Simmons said, as Ballard laughed. “Some of the men are doing that as well.”
A spokesperson for Eurosport, which distributes the Olympic broadcast in Europe and shares the same parent company as CNN, confirmed Ballard had been dropped over his comments.
“We can confirm that Bob Ballard has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect,” it said in a statement Monday.
Ballard, a veteran commentator who has reported on sports since the mid-’80s, has covered several Olympic games. He also works as a music and news presenter for BBC Local Radio.
In a statement posted Monday on social media, Ballard offered an apology for his remarks.
“The comments I made during the Australian freestyle relay victory ceremony on Saturday have caused some offence. It was never my intention to upset or belittle anyone and, if I did, I apologise. I am a massive advocate of women’s sport,” he wrote.
“I shall miss the Eurosport team, dearly and wish them all the best for the rest of the Olympics,” he added.
In the aftermath of his controversial comments, Ballard shifted his focus to his role as a music and news presenter for BBC Local Radio, discussing various aspects of business within the media industry. Despite the backlash, Ballard continued to express his support for women's sports and vowed to use his platform to promote equality.
