The official broadcaster for the Olympics has called on camera operators to treat male and female athletes equally in their filming practices to prevent “stereotypes and sexism” from emerging in the broadcasts.
The Paris Olympics mark a historic milestone as they are the first in the modern era, spanning 128 years, to achieve gender parity among participants, with women’s sports receiving increased visibility during prime-time slots to enhance their recognition.
As the Games progress, the head of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) announced that the guidelines for camera operators—predominantly male—have been revised.
OBS oversees the television coverage of the Olympics, distributing its footage to rights holders globally.
“Unfortunately, in some competitions, women are still filmed in a manner that reveals lingering stereotypes and sexism, particularly in how some camera operators frame male and female athletes differently,” stated chief executive Yiannis Exarchos at a press conference in Paris.
“Women athletes participate not for their attractiveness but because they are exceptional athletes.”
Exarchos pointed out that the issue primarily arises from “unconscious bias,” noting that camera operators and TV editors often showcase women with more close-up shots than men.
Olympics organizers in Paris have implemented several scheduling adjustments to enhance the visibility of women’s sports, including making the women’s marathon the concluding event of the Games rather than the men’s race.
“Historically, event schedules have favored men’s competitions,” Exarchos remarked.
“In team sports, the sequence typically features women’s finals before men’s finals… In combat and strength sports, women’s events are usually scheduled for the morning, with men’s taking place in the afternoon.”
Marie Sallois, the director responsible for gender equality at the International Olympic Committee, described the Paris Games as “effectively the world’s largest stage for promoting gender equality in and through sports.”
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She highlighted the “symbolic moments” from Friday’s opening ceremony, which included nearly all delegations having both a male and female flag bearer, while the artistic segment honored trailblazing women from French history.
When the modern Olympic movement was revived by French nobleman Pierre de Coubertin in the late 1800s, he envisioned it as a celebration of gentlemanly sportsmanship, “rewarded by the applause of women.”
In 1924, the last time the Olympics took place in Paris, only 4% of the participants were women, and they were confined to sports deemed “appropriate” for them, such as swimming, tennis, and croquet.
