A veteran sports commentator has been sacked from his Olympics role after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win.

As the 4x100m freestyle relay team were making their way off the pool deck in Paris, Bob Ballard said they were “finishing up”, adding “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their make up”.

The clip quickly went viral and broadcaster Eurosport later said he had been removed from the commentary line-up.

Ballard has yet to comment publicly on his remarks.

  • I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    Yesterday during women’s volleyball (Czech Republic vs USA) an American announcer said “Czechoslov……. Czechia…” I haven’t heard anyone upset about it yet, but I was expecting to.

    Definitely less offensive than being chatty about “ladies and their silly lady habits lololol!”

      • Dicska@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        I can’t speak for them (too well), but imagine that up until 30 years ago the US was one country with Canada under the name of… I don’t know, the United Canastates, and as you’re watching your favourite olympic sport rooting for your favourite player, someone introduces them as someone from the United Cana… Can… United States.

        To be fair, even after typing this out I wouldn’t be outraged, just slightly irked, but we’re all different.

    • calcopiritus@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      What’s upsetting about that? When things change names but you are used to calling it the old name, it’s normal to say the old one instead of the new one. He even corrected himself before finishing the old one lol.

    • Th3master@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      No that Bob is quite a bit older and hasn’t got into sports broadcasting, at least not the last time I checked… ;)

  • eatthecake@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    This guy is out for being a dick but it’s fine to have an olympic rapist. I don’t get it.

    • HollandJim@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Speaking of behalf of many of us in the Netherlands, yeah – we don’t get it either.

      IMHO, should never have been allowed on the team.