# Framing the Elite: Why European Athletics Is Banning Voyeuristic Camera Angles

**By Petra Nowak**  \nPublished August 5, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> New broadcasting directives from the European Broadcasting Union aim to eradicate voyeuristic camera angles and slow-motion body tracking at the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

When elite competitors step onto the track, their focus belongs entirely on kinetic output, split times, and technical execution. Yet for years, female athletes have navigated an invisible secondary hurdle: the predatory framing of television lenses. Ahead of the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, scheduled for August 10–16, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has intervened with a twenty-page directive designed to dismantle this visual exploitation.

Published in mid-June, the guidelines establish strict protocols for how female athletes must be filmed. Among the mandated changes are the outright prohibition of low-angle shots from behind or below competitors, as well as invasive close-ups targeting specific parts of the body. Furthermore, slow-motion replays must undergo rigorous pre-broadcast screening to prevent the distribution of compromising imagery, a measure deemed crucial given that slow-motion edits rarely add value to technical analysis.

Glen Killane, executive director of the EBU's sports branch—which includes tournament broadcaster France Télévisions—emphasized the urgency of the shift. Nous reconnaissons l'urgence de renforcer les normes de diffusion afin de garantir une couverture qui respecte et reflète systématiquement le talent, la force et le dévouement des sportives, he noted in the directive.

## The Mechanics of Voyeurism and Technical Counter-Measures

The problem extends far beyond broadcast aesthetics into targeted cyber harassment and the proliferation of non-consensual imagery on social media platforms. British pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, laid bare the psychological toll of these production habits. Beaucoup d'athlètes, moi y compris, ont déjà vécu des situations de compétition où leur attention était davantage portée sur les caméras que sur leur propre performance, Bradshaw testified.

To combat this, the EBU's framework aligns with initiatives previously advocated by Yannis Exarchos, head of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), who prior to the Paris 2024 Games highlighted persistent stereotypes in gendered framing. The remedy proposed by governing bodies is a pivot toward technical storytelling. By focusing cameras on the mechanics that comprise ninety percent of an event like the high jump or pole vault—rather than fixating on bar clearances and landings—broadcasters naturally eliminate compromised angles while elevating athletic analysis.

Ivana Spanovic, the Serbian long jump bronze medalist from the 2016 Rio Olympics who contributed to the new guidelines, underscored the expanded responsibility of on-air talent. Les commentateurs jouent également un rôle crucial en enrichissant les retransmissions, en mettant en lumière les performances des athlètes, en renforçant les liens avec le public et en éduquant et motivant la prochaine génération, Spanovic explained.

## The Unresolved Uniform Debate

While the EBU directives represent a vital operational pivot for live broadcasting, advocacy groups emphasize that camera framing is only part of a structural imbalance. Equipment and uniform designs continue to draw intense scrutiny regarding gender equity. While male competitors wear form-fitting short tights and singlets that cover the midriff, female athletes frequently compete in highly revealing attire.

Katia Palla, president of the association La Voix de Sarah, which campaigns against sexual violence in sports, pointedly criticized the disparity during a 2024 conference: Les hommes ont des shortys moulants, des débardeurs, ils n'ont pas le ventre à l'air, ils ne sont pas en culottes. Les femmes sont extrêmement dénudées.

Similar criticisms surfaced ahead of the Paris Olympics concerning the heavily cut briefs worn by various national teams. Middle-distance runner Colleen Quigley condemned the design as entirely unsuited for athletic performance, while pole vaulter Katie Moon called the options genuinely concerning. These ongoing design controversies illustrate that while media houses can regulate what reaches the screen, the broader sports apparatus faces deeper questions regarding how female athletic gear is conceived, manufactured, and mandated.

## Sources

- [www.lequipe.fr](https://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Actualites/Des-plans-de-cameras-proscrits-pour-eviter-de-sexualiser-les-athletes-lors-des-championnats-d-europe-d-athletisme-2026/1704565) — original
- [www.ouest-france.fr](https://www.ouest-france.fr/jeux-olympiques/jo-2024-une-tenue-speciale-pour-les-sportives-a-ete-concue-pour-lutter-contre-le-voyeurisme-2730ae2c-2e3b-11ef-b70d-a349109d0370) — original
- [Par  Philippe Vande Weyer](https://www.lesoir.be/748121/article/2026-05-21/pour-lathletisme-belge-une-saison-en-sept-questions) — original
- [Par  Philippe Vande Weyer](https://www.lesoir.be/699531/article/2025-09-17/les-managers-de-nafi-thiam-fustigent-belgian-athletics-ils-sont-prets-aller-tres) — original
- [Par Belga](https://www.lesoir.be/702022/article/2025-09-30/athletisme-jacqueline-galant-veut-une-modification-du-code-de-conduite) — original