Olympians call for broadcast guidelines to curb sexualization

Olympians and sports officials are pushing for clearer broadcast standards after concerns that women athletes are still being filmed in ways that emphasize their bodies rather than their performances. Canadian former Olympian Kate Van Buskirk said some camera angles from major competitions, including the Tokyo 2021 Games, felt invasive and unnecessary. She and other athletes argue that broadcasts should focus on athletic achievement and avoid lingering closeups, lowangle shots, and slowmotion replays that add little storytelling value. The issue has gained new attention after the European Broadcasting Union and European Athletics introduced updated women’s athletics coverage guidelines in July 2026. Broadcasters and sport leaders say the goal is to protect athlete dignity while still delivering strong coverage of competition.