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๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France /Sports

New rules against sexualizing female athletes in media widely praised ahead of European Championships

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • New guidelines from the European Broadcasting Union aim to prevent the sexualization of female athletes in media coverage.
  • The recommendations advise broadcasters to avoid prolonged shots of bodies, suggestive camera angles, and excessive slow-motion replays.
  • Athletes and organizations have widely welcomed the guidelines, emphasizing the need for respectful coverage focused on performance.

New guidelines from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) are set to change how female athletes are portrayed in media coverage, with a focus on preventing unnecessary sexualization. The EBU released a guide in mid-July for broadcasters, urging them to reconsider camera work that unnecessarily sexualizes athletes.

The prolonged shots of bodies, low-angle shots that reveal intimate angles, as well as excessive slow-motion replays that serve no technical or narrative purpose are among the problems observed in the media coverage of women's sports competitions today.

โ€” Glen KillaneGlen Killane, the EBU's executive director, described the problematic camera work identified in media coverage.

Specific problematic practices identified include prolonged shots of athletes' bodies, low-angle shots revealing intimate details, and excessive slow-motion replays that serve no technical or narrative purpose. The EBU highlighted common examples like slow-motion replays of a high jumper with legs spread or close-ups of a runner's buttocks. These choices, the EBU stated, shape audience perception by diverting attention from remarkable achievements and technical skills, risking the perpetuation of sexist stereotypes.

I do sports and I don't want to be filmed with my butt!

โ€” Marie-Julie BonninFrench pole vaulter Marie-Julie Bonnin reacted to the new guidelines.

Female athletes have largely applauded the announcement. French pole vaulter Marie-Julie Bonnin expressed her discomfort, stating, "I do sports and I don't want to be filmed with my butt!" She added that she had seen photos and videos of herself that she found inappropriate and lacking in sporting interest, making her feel uneasy. Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlaลกiฤ‡, a multiple Olympic medalist, echoed these sentiments. She noted that athletes want to enjoy their sport without anxiety about being filmed, and that the presence of cameras can sometimes distract from their performance.

I think it was something we had accepted despite ourselves. I saw videos, photos of myself where I said to myself: why are they posting this? It has no sporting interest. I found myself in positions... I was even uncomfortable seeing these photos and I was unable to reshare them.

โ€” Marie-Julie BonninMarie-Julie Bonnin explained her personal experience with inappropriate media portrayals.

The European Athletics Championships are scheduled to take place in Birmingham from August 10-16, making these guidelines particularly timely. The initiative aims to foster a more respectful and performance-focused media environment for women in sports.

Athletes want to enjoy practicing their favorite sport without feeling uncomfortable or anxious about being filmed live. Many of them, including myself, have already found themselves in competitive situations where their attention was focused more on the cameras than on their own performance.

โ€” Blanka Vlaลกiฤ‡Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlaลกiฤ‡ shared her perspective on the impact of media attention.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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