Inclusive Sports Media: Gender Equality at Paris 2024 Olympics


07/09/2024


The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has released updated guidelines aimed at promoting fairness and inclusivity in how athletes are portrayed during the Olympic Games Paris 2024. These guidelines, part of ongoing efforts to achieve gender parity on the playing field, emphasize equal and respectful representation across media platforms. They provide practical tools to ensure that athletes are depicted without bias based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.
 
The IOC's latest guidelines build upon earlier versions, integrating new examples and references to enhance gender-equitable media practices. An additional annex offers guidance on respectful coverage of transgender, non-binary, and athletes with sex variations, aligning with the IOC's commitment to fairness and inclusion.
 
Historically, media coverage of female athletes has often focused on non-sporting aspects such as appearance and personal lives rather than their athletic achievements. The updated guidelines aim to rectify this by promoting balanced and inclusive storytelling across print, digital, radio, and broadcast media. By advocating for more representative media practices, the IOC aims to reshape public perceptions and highlight diverse role models within sports.
 
Yiannis Exarchos, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), underscores the importance of these guidelines in ensuring that coverage of the Olympic Games reflects the values of equality and excellence championed by the Olympic Movement.
 
Yiannis Exarchos, the CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), underscores OBS's dedication to equitable and impartial storytelling across all athletes. This commitment extends to addressing gender disparities in key broadcasting roles by empowering women in production, editorial, and technical positions, thereby cultivating a more inclusive broadcasting atmosphere within sports.
 
For Paris 2024, this initiative involves recruiting around 35 female commentators and ensuring balanced gender representation among senior staff and venue production teams. OBS also strives for gender parity in coverage across both live and non-live content on Olympics.com, with a specific emphasis on highlighting women's perspectives and narratives.