European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union have introduced new broadcast guidelines to reduce the sexualisation of female athletes during competitions.
The new rules were announced on Tuesday after athletes shared concerns about certain camera angles and replay shots used during live coverage.
Many athletes said some close up shots made them feel uncomfortable and shifted attention away from their performances.
European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov said the new guidelines are an important step toward creating more respectful coverage.
“The development of filming guidelines is a crucial step toward eliminating harmful portrayals of women in our sports while maintaining the highest level of storytelling and technical excellence,” Karamarinov said.
The guidelines advise broadcasters not to use long close up shots of specific body parts. They also discourage low angle shots filmed from behind or below athletes. Slow motion replays that do not help explain the sporting action should also be avoided.
Instead, broadcasters are encouraged to focus on the athletes’ performances and reduce the risk of clips being shared out of context on social media or other online platforms.
Production teams have also been asked to use wider camera angles that show the full movement of athletes during competition.
Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic welcomed the move and suggested more creative ways to present the sport.
“Our sport offers numerous opportunities to showcase technique and the beauty of movement, like displaying slow motion shots that highlight technical precision, such as the take off moment or the perfect stride,” Spanovic said.
The Serbian also encouraged broadcasters to use aerial camera views and educational graphics to help viewers better understand the technical side of athletics while keeping the focus on performance.
