Veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard has been dismissed from his Olympics role after making a sexist remark about Australian female swimmers following their gold medal win.
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As the 4x100m freestyle relay team made their way off the pool deck in Paris, Ballard commented that they were “finishing up”, adding, “you know what women are like… hanging around, doing their makeup.”
The clip quickly went viral, prompting Eurosport to announce his removal from the commentary line-up. Ballard has yet to comment publicly on his remarks.
The team, consisting of Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack, had just triumphed over the US and China, marking the fourth consecutive Olympics where Australia has claimed gold in this event.
On Sunday, Eurosport said former rugby commentator Ballard – previously a long-time BBC reporter and presenter – would not return to their air waves.
“During a segment of Eurosport’s coverage last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment,” the broadcaster said in a statement.
“To that end, he has been removed from our commentary roster with immediate effect.”
RFU will not be renewing Steve Borthwick’s contract, here’s why
eflecting on past decisions, the RFU has learned from the extended tenures of Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward and is prepared for Borthwick to step down, even if England clinches the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia.
Here, we explore the current odds on who might succeed Borthwick as the next England head coach.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD – 50/1
Woodward is the World Cup winning Head Coach who led England’s rugby players to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003.
A former England International and British & Irish Lion himself, prior to his full time coaching career Clive established a successful business career working for nine years with Xerox in the UK and Australia before establishing his own small finance and leasing company.
During Clive’s tenure as Head Coach England moved from 6th in the world to being the number one ranked team, winning every trophy an England team can win.
RICHARD COCKERILL – 30/1
Currently in charge of Georgia, he was part of the England coaching staff up until the end of the 2023 Six Nations.
GRAHAM ROWNTREE – 20/1
Currently the Munster head coach.
ROB BAXTER – 18/1
Although Baxter joined the England coaching team for the summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay in March 2013, he has no other experience outside of Exeter.
“I would be happy to have a chat about what the role is, how they see it working and what their plans and ambitions are,” Baxter said of the England job.
“Unless you know what it is, it’s hard to say yes or no to anything. At the same time, I’m not looking for another job! I’m very happy here,” he added.
