The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and European Athletics have teamed up to release a new set of broadcasting guidelines titled Raising the Bar. The 23-page document aims to stop the unnecessary sexualization of female track and field athletes by television production crews during broadcasts. The guidelines were developed in close collaboration with elite sportswomen, including British Olympic pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, Serbian long jumper Ivana Spanovic, and Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic. The athletes shared that intrusive camera work causes them anxiety during competition, distracting them from their performance because they have to worry about how they are being portrayed on screen.
Glen Killane, Executive Director, EBU Sport said: “Women’s sport deserves to be seen, covered, and valued on equal terms and we’re committed to making that a reality across our rights portfolio with our Members and partners.
Camera Shots to Avoid
The official document lists specific camera angles that directors and production teams are urged to avoid during live sports coverage:
Lingering Close-Ups: Camera operators should not use long, tight close-up shots of an athlete’s specific body parts, such as the chest or buttocks, which take focus away from their athletic achievement.
Low-Angle Rear Views: Broadcasters should avoid filming from very low angles directly from behind or underneath the athletes. This is particularly common, and now discouraged, during vertical and horizontal jumps, as well as sprint races.
Unnecessary Slow-Motion Replays: The guide notes that slow-motion clips should only be used if they explain a technical detail or help tell the sporting story. Repeats that serve no clear sporting purpose are often cut out of context and shared inappropriately on social media, leading to online abuse.
New broadcasting guidelines for women’s athletics have been released to crack down on camera angles and slow-motion replays that ‘sexualize’ athletes
The guidelines highlight shots broadcasters are urged to avoid pic.twitter.com/QGxAiMlvfE
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 14, 2026
Check the full guideline here.
A Shift Toward Sporting Achievement
Instead of these intrusive views, the EBU and European Athletics are encouraging production teams to use wider camera angles. These wide views are designed to showcase the full, dynamic movement of the athlete, including the full run-up, the exact moment of take-off, and the final landing.
“At European Athletics, we are committed to ensuring that our sport is presented in a way that respects and empowers all athletes, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background and this commitment is at the heart our “Race For Respect” initiative,” said Dobromir Karamarinov, President, European Athletics.
While these new recommendations are strictly voluntary guidelines rather than mandatory rules with penalties, sports authorities hope they will raise editorial standards. The ultimate goal is to ensure that media coverage celebrates the physical skill, hard work, and technical excellence of female athletes rather than drawing attention to their bodies.
