European Athletics and EBU Introduce Guidelines Against Sexualized Portrayal of Female Athletes

European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union have jointly introduced guidelines aimed at ending the sexualized portrayal of female athletes in sports coverage. The initiative, titled 'Raising the Bar: A Guide to Respectful Depiction of Women's Athletics,' seeks to ensure that female competitors are presented with dignity and professionalism, mirroring the coverage afforded to male athletes.

For decades, female athletes have been subjected to inappropriate camera angles and editing choices that focus on their bodies rather than their athletic prowess. This includes lingering shots of their physical attributes, low and revealing camera angles, and excessive use of slow-motion replays, particularly in sports like long jump and sprinting. The new guidelines explicitly address these issues, urging broadcasters to avoid close-ups of athletes' backsides, crotches, or breasts, and to reconsider the use of 'revealing' or 'uncomfortable' slow-motion shots.

Glen Killane, EBU's Director, stated that female athletes are often sexualized through selective camera work and editing, which is a significant problem in many sports broadcasts. He emphasized that such shots have no place when showcasing athletic technique or telling a story. The organizations advocate for a shift towards highlighting athletes' power, skills, and competitive emotions, thereby protecting their dignity and presenting them as the elite professionals they are.

Former triple jumper Kristiina Mäkelä views the guidelines as a positive step, reflecting the athletics community's commitment to improvement. She noted that the guidelines provide concrete examples of how to film various disciplines respectfully. Mäkelä, who previously criticized the way she and other athletes were filmed during competitions, believes that focusing on strength and skill-based imagery allows athletes to be presented appropriately and with dignity. The EBU uses euphemisms like 'revealing' or 'uncomfortable' to describe the problematic imagery they aim to eliminate.