EBU guidelines trigger Czech athletes' backlash over camera angles

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) released a new manual for broadcasters aimed at reducing the sexualisation of female athletes. The document advises against low‑angle shots, prolonged close‑ups and repeated slow‑motion replays that focus on athletes' bodies rather than performance. EBU Sport director Glen Killane said the guidance seeks to keep the focus on sport.

Czech sprinter Nikola Bendová reacted humorously at the national championships in Plzeň, noting that “my butt has already been seen by the whole Czech Republic” and that the athletes will continue to work for a “nice butt”. She added that she does not mind camera crews filming from any angle. Other Czech athletes, including Tereza Petržilková and Lurdes Gloria Manuel, expressed similar views, describing the rules as unnecessary or “absurd” and emphasizing that clothing choices are driven by functionality and aerodynamics.

The guidelines are advisory rather than mandatory, and at the Plzeň meet the athletes wore their usual tight competition outfits without any enforced changes. The discussion has sparked a broader debate in the Czech athletics community about the balance between protecting athletes from objectification and preserving freedom of expression on the track.