TV broadcasts introduce new rules to prevent athlete sexualization

The European Athletics Championships, which kicked off this Monday in Birmingham, are introducing a significant change in how the competition is broadcast, with a ban on certain camera angles to prevent the sexualization of female athletes' bodies.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released a guide in mid-June titled Raising the Bar, which establishes new recommendations for filming women's athletics. The primary goal is to prevent the misuse of images for online harassment, focusing on athletic performance rather than on angles that could be considered compromising.

This measure has been welcomed by several athletes who have previously felt uncomfortable with cameras during competitions. Pole vaulter Marie-Julie Bonnin expressed her satisfaction on the sidelines of the French championships on July 25. “When I heard this guide had been published, I was super happy,” she told RMC Sport.

The French athlete shared her personal experience, revealing the discomfort caused by certain images of herself. “I think it was something we had, deep down, accepted – the fact that there were images that weren't normal. I saw videos and photos of myself and thought: 'Why are they publishing this? It has no sporting interest whatsoever.' I find myself in positions... I was really uncomfortable seeing those photos and was unable to share them,” Bonnin confessed.

The pole vaulter further explained that she had contacted organizers and photographers to request content removal. “Sometimes, I would send messages to organizers, to people, to photographers. I would tell them: 'Can you delete this?' In reality, it's not just about the briefs. Often they tell us: 'Then don't jump in briefs.' For us, briefs are a symbol. We start training in shorts, thinking that briefs are for the big, for the strong. It's our competition gear,” she added.

The EBU's new guidelines, which also apply to photographers present in Birmingham, emphasize the importance of valuing technique and athletic performance, ensuring that media coverage focuses on what is sportingly relevant.