By Trust Ittai

European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have introduced new broadcasting guidelines aimed at preventing the sexualisation of female athletes through inappropriate camera angles and replay choices during sports coverage.

The move, announced on Tuesday, follows feedback from athletes who raised concerns that certain filming techniques can create discomfort and distract attention from their performances by focusing on appearance rather than sporting excellence.

European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov said the new measures represent an important step towards ensuring that women in sport are portrayed with dignity and respect.

"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.

Under the guidelines, broadcasters have been advised to avoid prolonged close-up shots of specific body parts, low-angle camera views from behind or beneath athletes, and slow-motion replays that add little value to the understanding of the competition.

The organisations stressed that sports coverage should remain focused on athletic performance, while also reducing the possibility of footage being removed from its original context and shared inappropriately online.

Production teams have been encouraged to adopt wider camera angles that capture the full range of athletes' movements, techniques and skills, providing viewers with a more complete understanding of sporting performances.

Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic welcomed the initiative, calling for broadcasters to embrace creative and educational approaches to storytelling.

The Serbian athlete suggested the use of innovative perspectives, including aerial camera views and informative graphics, to better explain the technical aspects of athletic performances.

"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 guidelines are expected to influence future athletics broadcasts across Europe, promoting coverage that celebrates athletes' achievements while ensuring a more respectful and performance-focused presentation of women's sport.