European Athletics and EBU Release 'Raising the Bar' Camera Guidelines for Women's Events

European Athletics and the European Broadcasting Union introduced guidelines titled “Raising the Bar” on July 15, 2026, to prevent the sexualisation of female athletes through camera angles and replays. @Reuters reported that the document advises broadcasters to avoid prolonged close-up shots of specific body parts, low-angle views filmed from behind or beneath athletes, and slow-motion replays that do not contribute to the understanding of the sporting action.

The guidelines encourage wider camera angles that capture the full scope of an athlete’s movement and performance.

They include animated visuals for high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and running events, marking “positive” and “negative” angles with checkmarks or crosses. In high jump, the guidelines state that a low camera angle underneath the athlete has a high chance of generating compromising images and that slow-motion replays of the athlete clearing the bar diminish technical insight.

European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov stated on Wednesday that the development of filming guidelines is a crucial step toward eliminating harmful portrayals of women in sports while maintaining storytelling and technical excellence.

The measures follow feedback from athletes who said certain camera shots can cause discomfort and distractions by drawing attention away from their performances. Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic said broadcasters should use innovative camera angles, including aerial views, and educational graphics to help explain athletic performances.