Eurosport Olympic commentator dropped from broadcasts for 'inappropriate' on-air remark about women
Australia's Shayna Jack, Mollie O'Callaghan, Emma Mckeon and Meg Harris, from left, celebrate after winning the women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
PARIS — Eurosport has dropped an Olympic swimming commentator from its Paris coverage for an “inappropriate” comment about women.
British journalist Bob Ballard said on air after Australia won the 4x100-meter freestyle relay on Saturday: “Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like ... hanging around, doing their makeup.”
Co-commentator Lizzie Simmonds, who swam at the 2012 London Olympics for Britain, reacted on air by describing the comment as “outrageous.”
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment," Eurosport said in a statement Sunday, "To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
Eurosport, a subsidiary of parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, is the main Olympic rights holder in Europe with sub-licensing deals to national public networks.
Ballard is a former long-time Olympic broadcaster for the BBC, which has one of those deals to show a limited number of events.
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