July 30th 2024.
Wayne Riley is a well-known figure in the world of sports as he has been a vital part of Sky Sports' golf coverage for years. However, he recently faced some backlash from his bosses after making a sexist comment during the live coverage of The Open tournament. As a former professional golfer, Riley is nicknamed "Radar" and provides expert commentary and insights on the game.
During the coverage, Riley took viewers on a tour of the training facilities used by top players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy at the Royal Troon course. As he demonstrated the use of a massage gun for shoulder therapy, he made a comment that caused quite a stir. He jokingly said, "I tell you what, if that could cook and clean I'd marry it." This remark did not sit well with his bosses at Sky, who promptly contacted him and the production team to address the issue.
While Riley's comment was not meant to offend anyone, Sky reminded him and his team about the importance of using appropriate language and being mindful of their words. It was a lesson learned for Riley, and it coincided with another incident involving Eurosport's lead swimming commentator, Bob Ballard. The experienced broadcaster was removed from his position after making a sexist observation about Australia's female swimmers during a live event in Paris.
The incident occurred after the Australian women's 4x100m freestyle relay team won a gold medal. In a viral clip on social media, Ballard can be heard saying, "Well, the women just finishing up. You know what women are like...hanging around, doing their makeup." His co-commentator, Lizzie Simmonds, immediately called out the remark as "outrageous." Ballard, who has a 40-year-long career in broadcasting, accepted his punishment and issued a brief statement apologizing for his comment.
In his statement, Ballard expressed his regret and apologized for causing any offense. He clarified that it was never his intention to belittle or upset anyone and that he is a huge supporter of women's sports. Despite his apology, he was removed from his position at Eurosport. Ballard will be missed by his colleagues, and he wishes them all the best for the rest of the Olympics. He also stated that he will not be making any further comments on the matter.
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