New broadcasting guidelines designed to stop television broadcasts from sexualizing female athletes take effect on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the start of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, according to Agence France-Presse. Developed by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the rules aim to eliminate unnecessary camera angles and slow-motion replays that focus on competitors’ bodies rather than their athletic performances.
EBU Guidelines Target Unnecessary Camera Angles and Zooms
The European Broadcasting Union, based in Geneva, worked directly with active female athletes to draft the new regulatory framework. According to EBU sports executive director Glen Killane, the organization identified selective camera angles, tight body zooms, and excessive slow-motion replays as persistent problems in women’s athletics coverage that serve no technical or narrative purpose. Under the new guidelines, broadcasters will deliberately avoid low camera placements—such as those positioned beneath athletes during high jump or pole vault events—that risk capturing compromising images.
British pole vaulter and Olympic bronze medalist Holly Bradshaw, who advised the EBU during the drafting process, stated that live sports broadcasts can wield incredible power, but they can also harm competing women and the girls watching from home. Bradshaw noted that she and her peers have experienced online abuse and inappropriate slow-motion footage, adding that athletes frequently find themselves worrying about nearby cameras rather than focusing entirely on their competition.
Athletes Demand Dignity and Focus on Athletic Performance
French pole vaulter Marie-Julie Bonnin summarized the core frustration of many competitors, stating plainly that she participates in sports to compete and does not wish to have her body filmed. Bonnin reported that she has previously contacted event organizers and photographers to request the removal of images lacking any sporting interest, noting that competitors had grown too accustomed to accepting abnormal media framing as normal.
British sprinter Amy Hunt also supported the policy shift, recalling that previous competitions in London and Doha featured starting-block cameras that female competitors flagged as problematic. Hunt emphasized that including female athletes and broadcasters in media planning helps identify issues early. She added that competitors should not feel compelled to alter their athletic gear to feel comfortable, noting that the guidelines represent a welcome step forward in letting athletes feel powerful and unhindered by their uniforms.
Scope of the New Rules and Future Broadcast Standards
The new regulations debut exclusively at the European Athletics Championships running from August 10 to August 16, 2026, in Birmingham. Because the EBU developed the policy independently, the guidelines do not currently apply to Olympic disciplines governed separately by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The EBU operates as the world’s largest alliance of public service media, representing 115 member organizations across 57 countries alongside 33 associate members in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Broadcasters covering the Birmingham championships must adhere to the newly established roadmap regarding acceptable camera framing, marking a significant operational shift in live sports television production.
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