European Athletics Cracks Down on Sexualised Coverage of Female Athletes

July.16 (Mirror Sports) - European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have introduced new broadcasting guidelines designed to prevent the sexualisation of female athletes through camera angles and replay techniques.

The initiative, titled "Raising the Bar," follows feedback from athletes who said certain camera angles can cause discomfort and distract from their performances.

European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov described the new guidelines as an important step towards improving how women's athletics is presented.

"The development of filming guidelines is a crucial step toward eliminating harmful portrayals of women in our sport while maintaining the highest level of storytelling and technical excellence," Karamarinov said.

The recommendations advise broadcasters to avoid prolonged close-up shots of specific body parts, low-angle views filmed from behind or beneath athletes, and slow-motion replays that do not enhance technical understanding or storytelling.

Instead, production teams are encouraged to use wider camera angles that showcase the full range of an athlete's movement and performance while reducing the risk of footage being taken out of context or shared inappropriately online.

Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic welcomed the initiative, urging broadcasters to use innovative camera angles, aerial shots and educational graphics to highlight athletic technique rather than appearance.

"Our sport offers numerous opportunities to showcase technique and the beauty of athletic movement, such as displaying slow-motion shots that highlight technical precision, including the take-off moment or the perfect stride," Spanovic said.

The "Raising the Bar" document includes visual examples for running, high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump, clearly identifying recommended and discouraged camera angles.

For example, the guidelines warn that low-angle shots beneath high jump athletes can produce compromising images, while unnecessary slow-motion replays often add little technical value.

Broadcasters are also encouraged to capture athletes' emotions, celebrations and interactions with coaches respectfully, keeping the focus firmly on sporting achievement.

EBU Sport Executive Director Glen Killane said the changes are intended to ensure women's athletics is portrayed with the respect it deserves.

"Lingering shots on bodies, low-angle cameras that capture revealing views, and excessive slow-motion replays that serve no technical or storytelling purpose divert attention from the remarkable achievements and technical skills of women athletes," Killane said.

The guidelines are available to broadcasters worldwide and are intended to encourage ongoing collaboration between directors, camera operators and athletes to deliver respectful, performance-focused coverage.

Source: Aljazeera / BBC