Last month, the European Broadcasting Union released new guidelines banning sports photographers and videographers from taking footage of female athletes that could appear “sexualized”.

Since the new rules were released, the backlash waged against them on social media has stunned the sporting world.

The paper titled: "Raising the Bar: Guidelines for respectful media coverage in women's athletics", includes detailed illustrations on what shots are acceptable and which could be considered inappropriate.

It also stated: "This is not a list of restrictions. Across high jump, pole vault, horizontal jumps and running events, the report demonstrates how the most compromising shots can be avoided with no loss of storytelling or visual quality."

Critics flocked to social media to mock the guidelines

Sadly unsurprisingly, the guidelines sparked a tense discussion and became the subject of thousands of crude jokes about women's sport.

One misogynistic X user said: “You basically killed any interest in female sports.”

Another chimed in with a similar sentiment, writing: “Volleyball viewership is gonna go down by 90%.”

A third made a suggestion that incorrectly shifted the blame from men to the women themselves, saying: “Or just have women wear some clothes when they compete, is it really necessary for women to constantly just wear underwear when playing sport?”

In response, another commenter pointed out how deep-rooted the casual sexism within women’s sports is, noting: “Actually, without exception, the sports governing bodies REQUIRE women to wear those skimpy outfits.”

Discussion about the filming of women's sports heightened during the Paris Olympics. Credit: Christian Liewig - Corbis / Getty

The illustrations provide clear demonstrations of what is no longer allowed

Published by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in collaboration with European Athletics and prominent female athletes, "Raising the Bar" is a set of guidelines designed to combat the sexualization and objectification of women in sports media.

The 23-page document provides practical visual examples for camera operators and directors to avoid compromising, low-angle, or unnecessary slow-motion shots that divert focus from the athletes' athletic abilities.

Ultimately, these regulations have established a respectful broadcasting standard that prioritizes the technical skill and strength of female competitors, rather than their objectifying physical attributes.

Within the industry, an important discussion around the issue of “sexualized” shots of female athletes surfaced during the 2024 Paris Olympics when the CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services, Yiannis Exarchos, ordered camera operators to film both male and female athletes the same way to avoid "stereotypes and sexism".

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The objectification of women in sports is a tale as old as time. Whether that is scantily clad "grid girls" standing in front of cars before the Grands Prix or the Darts Corporation's "walk-on girls", there is a long history of women being treated as accoutrements in live sporting competitions. Now while the aforementioned practices have since banned the use of both "grid girls" and "walk-on girls", one game where women are still prized solely on their looks is, of course, the football.

Certainly, whenever watching televised football, the camera always seems to zoom in on one of two things: children holding amusing signs, and beautiful women.

This practice may be about to change, however. In a bid to tackle sexism, television stations have been told by FIFA to stop zooming in on attractive women within the crowds.

The head of sustainability and diversity at FIFA, Federico Addiechi, has spoken positively of the changes. "We've done it with individual broadcasters. We've done it with our host broadcast services," he stated, before explaining that FIFA is prepared to "take action against things that are wrong".

There have been an unprecedented number of reports of sexism at this year's World Cup, with female reporters allegedly being harassed, not just online, but in public too. Certainly, while pre-tournament concerns that Russia 2018 would see a barrage of homophobic and racist attacks have not materialised, accounts of sexist behaviour have been rife.
The anti-discrimination collective, Fare Network, have been working with FIFA to monitor behaviour and attitudes in and around the World Cup games, and its executive director, Piara Powar, has since stated that sexism has been the biggest issue at Russia 2018.

Speaking to journalist at a press conference about diversity issues before England's semi-final against Croatia, Powar said that he and his time have "documented more than 30 cases" of mostly Russian women being "accosted in the streets" by male football fans. He added, however, that the real number of incidents is likely to be "10 times this".

He also said that there have been several cases of female reporters being kissed or groped while on air.

When quizzed on what FIFA could do to tackle such behaviour, Addiechi explained that the federation has been working with local organisers and the Russian police to identify these fans, some of which have since lost their FAN-IDs and been ordered out of the country.
Addiechi has since clarified that halting the zooming in on "hot women" in the crowds is "one of the activities that we definitely will have in the future - it's a normal evolution."We have done it on a case-by-case basis when some cases arose and they were pretty evident."

"We've done it with individual broadcasters. We've done it as well with our host broadcast services," he continued, before adding that it is not yet part of "proactive campaign".

The International Olympic Committee has introduced a groundbreaking new framework for transgender and intersex athletes.

This week the committee announced that they would no longer require athletes to undergo controversial procedures or treatments, including hormone level modifications, to compete, NBC News reports.

In a six-page document, the IOC outlined 10 principles "grounded on the respect for internationally recognized human rights," and set out their new framework.

Per NBC News, the document reads: "The Framework recognizes both the need to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their gender identity or sex variations, can practice sport in a safe, harassment-free environment that recognizes and respects their needs and identities."

As well as removing the need for controversial treatments, the new framework also reverses the IOC's previous position by concluding there should be no presumption that trans women have a biological advantage over natal women.

These new rules come just three months after the Tokyo Olympics, which saw the first transgender and intersex athletes compete in the Games' history. They were developed following an "extensive consultation" with athletes, other sports organizations, and human rights experts, and will replace guidelines released by the IOC in 2015.

The 2015 framework put a limit on athletes' testosterone levels and required some to undergo treatments the IOC now describes as "medically unnecessary." Before 2015, the IOC required athletes to undergo genital surgery in order to compete.

LGBTQ athletes and advocates welcomed the new guidelines. Canadian soccer gold medalist Quinn, who in July became the first openly trans athlete to compete in the Olympic games, said in a statement to Athlete Ally that the new rules were 'groundbreaking'.

"Far too often, sport policy does not reflect the lived experience of marginalized athletes, and that's especially true when it comes to transgender athletes and athletes with sex variations," they said.

"This new IOC framework is groundbreaking in the way that it reflects what we know to be true - that athletes like me and my peers participate in sports without any inherent advantage, and that our humanity deserves to be respected," they added.

Transgender triathlete Chris Mosier - who became the first out trans athlete to compete on a US national team in 2016 - wrote on Twitter:

"The new IOC Framework makes clear that no athlete has an inherent advantage and moves away from eligibility criteria focused on testosterone levels, a practice that caused harmful and abusive practices such as invasive physical examinations and sex testing."

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A gym has divided customers after introducing new rules for influencers who want to record their workout within their facility.

Now, "gym-fluencing" has seen a massive boom over the past few years as more and more people are hitting the gym in order to keep themselves fit and healthy - and use their workouts to gain followers on social media.

For a lot of beginners - and even avid gym goers - recording a workout can be a great way of keeping track of their form and technique.

However, as helpful as it can be, it hasn't come without its troubles.

Not only has there been a rise in awkward interactions between gymgoers, but the number of heated exchanges occurring in front of cameras due to them just being there has left the entire internet debating whether recording should be allowed in gyms or not.

Now, in an effort to combat this, one Australian gym company decided to introduce a set of new house rules that addressed this growing concern.

Dohertys Gym, which has facilities located in Melbourne and Perth, introduced a new rule that means gym-goers will have to apply for a "media pass" if they want to use any filming equipment in their branches.

Taking to Instagram, the gym has said that from February 1, filming on tripods will "no longer be permitted" due to safety concerns.

"It is our duty of care to provide safety protection and privacy for all our members. Tripods have become a trip hazard and a safety concern," the post read.

And let's just say, it managed to ignite a heated debate in the comments.

"Is this just a way to make an extra couple of bucks by 'purchasing a media pass"' Is it too difficult to just tell off people abusing others privacy while filming?" one user questioned, while another added: "Well it looks like I’m banned."

A third also joked: "Need to send your coach a video of your form? No worries, just purchase a media pass and train during the day while you’re supposed to be at work."

One person even asked for a refund there and then, writing: "How do I get a refund for the rest of my annual pass I purchased before this rule were put in place?"

However, others were totally on board with the new rule.

"I hope other gyms follow suit, if a photographer wants to use a studio they pay to hire one or build one. Essentially these people are using a gym as a studio and not paying to hire or build one," this user commented.

And this Instagrammer was also glad, commenting: You are a Legend. About time someone with balls did this. It’s an OH&S issue and disrespectful to other members. Thanks Dohertys!"

Another branded it a "good move."

Speaking of the issue, Tony Doherty, the owner of the gyms said: "If you must take a quick video with your phone while you are training, please be aware of anyone in the background and make sure you have their consent to post or share their image if they are."

"Better still, put your phone down and get on with training," he continued in the video. "This may not be popular with the tripod crew, but everyone else will appreciate not having to deal with them."

What do you think?

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The International Olympic Committee will be modifying its rules and regulations regarding transgender athletes in order to support inclusiveness at the global sporting event.

The Tokyo Olympic Games has become the focus of much debate after the IOC officially backed weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who was assigned male at birth, in her bid to represent New Zealand in the women's +87kg category

Laurel Hubbard, 43, was the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Games before bowing out of the competition on Monday, August 2, after she missed all of her snatch lift attempts.

It was the IOC's amendments to its qualifying guidelines in 2015 that paved the way for Hubbard's inclusion in the category.

In order to be eligible for a spot in the women's category, the athletes' testosterone levels are required to be under 10 nanomoles per liter for at least 12 months prior to their first competition.

The IOC is now hoping to update its 2015 ruling, with the committee's medical and science director, Dr. Richard Budgett, revealing that the organization is planning to introduce new guidelines.

Dr. Budgett said, per The Guardian: "I absolutely accept that things move on. At the time the 10 nanomoles per liter was set because we thought that was the lower level for men.

"We know now that they go down to seven and women can be higher as well. Agreeing on another number is almost impossible and possibly irrelevant. You can debate that endlessly."

He went on to say that the new framework will prioritize both fairness and inclusion, and also implied that individual sports will ultimately be responsible for eligibility criteria as opposed to imposing a "one-size-fits-all" ruling.

Dr. Budgett continued: "There is some research, but it depends on whether you are coming from the view of inclusion as the first priority or absolute fairness to the nth degree being the priority.

"If you don't want to take any risks at all that anyone might have an advantage, then you just stop everybody."

"If you are prepared to extrapolate from the evidence there is, and consider the fact there have been no openly transgender women at the top level until now, I think the threat to women's sport has probably been overstated," he added.

Featured image credit: Alamy / Miyoko Fukushima