The 2026 European Athletics Championships, taking place this week in Birmingham, from Monday, August 10 to Sunday, August 16, will be the first competition to follow the guidelines set by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to tackle " harmful stereotypes in women's athletics coverage".
The guidelines were published by the EBU in June, looking to end the misrepresentation and objectification of women by the cameras and broadcast, avoiding certain camera angles, zoom-ins, and slow motion takes that can become compromising to the athletes and add little or nothing to the technical insight of the sport.
The guidelines were made following input by several profile including pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, who said that athletes arriving at major competitions can become more focused on camera positions than on their performance, or on footage later being misused online. "Importantly, athletes themselves consistently point out that the camera angles which best showcase the power, precision and technique of their events are often the same ones that treat them with dignity and respect", the guidelines introduction said.
