Beach volleyball is one of the most popular sports at the Olympic Games every year – and often the most talked about sport.
The stark differences between men’s and women’s uniforms are often noted. The latter wear tight-fitting, high-cut bikinis, while their male counterparts wear loose tank tops and shorts.
Beach volleyball made its official Olympic debut at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, after first appearing as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
In the past, female beach volleyball players had to wear bikini bottoms. The International Olympic Committee even stipulated that the bottoms had to be very narrow. The official rules stated that the bottoms could not be wider at the sides than 7 cm.
It was not until the 2012 London Olympics that the International Volleyball Federation changed the uniform to take into account people’s religious or cultural beliefs.
Beach volleyball is one of the most popular sports at the Olympics each year and often the most talked about sport. Above: Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes of Team Canada in last week’s photo
That year, the International League for Women’s Rights organized a protest in the capital against gender discrimination in sports.
Annie Sugier, spokeswoman for the International League for Women’s Rights, said at the time Forbes: ‘They use women’s bodies for sex.
“It’s all about money. It makes women look like objects and it’s a clear case of sexism.”
Female athletes said at the time that people might look at them in tight swimsuits, but they would stick with the sport.
American beach volleyball player April Ross told the newspaper: “Once they see the athleticism of our sport, they’re hooked.”
Australian Natalie Cook said she was “fine” with it because it’s the “only sport where women dominate”, while Misty May-Treanor added that “what you see is what you get”.
Some women prefer to wear a bikini, saying that a two-piece suit prevents sand from getting stuck in their uniform while they dive into the ground to catch the ball.
Retired player Jennifer Kessy told Today that the sand “confined” her and “restricted” her movements.
Male athletes wear loose tank tops and shorts – a stark difference from their female counterparts. Above: Andrew Benesh of Team United States celebrates with teammate Miles Partain last week
Team Italy’s Marta Menegatti and Valentina Gottardi celebrate winning a point by hugging each other
Sweden’s David Ahman in action against Italy’s Paolo Nicolai are pictured during a men’s match last week
She said, ‘Imagine diving chest first and more sand getting into your suit than you think.
‘You can’t keep it in and it’s not easy to get it out. I found myself adjusting my one-piece suit all the time and although it was embarrassing, it also took my focus away from the match I was playing.’
Female volleyball players are now allowed to play their sport in leggings. Marie-Sara Stochlova from the Czech Republic recently took advantage of the changes.
French players Alexia Richard and Lezana Placette wore shorts and t-shirts under their bikini bottoms last week during their match against Japan’s Akiko Hasegawa and Miki Ishii.
Egyptian athletes Marwa Abdelhady and Doaa Elghobashy arrived last week fully clothed in full-coverage outfits and headscarves for their match against Spain.
Later, they also criticised the headscarf ban that France has imposed on its own athletes.
But many viewers were labelled ‘sexist’ and ‘creepy’ for complaining about the lack of bikini bottoms.
‘So I’ve had to watch men dressed as women at the opening ceremony and now women in leggings playing beach volleyball. Worst Olympics ever,’ one person posted.
French players Alexia Richard and Lezana Placette wore shorts and t-shirts under their bikini bottoms last week
Egyptian athletes Marwa Abdelhady and Doaa Elghobashy arrived last week fully dressed in an all-back outfit and hijab
Czech Republic’s Marie-Sara Stochlova took advantage of the uniform changes and donned leggings last week
Paula Soria Gutierrez and Liliana Fernandez Steiner from Spain celebrate during last week’s match
“Add that to the list of reasons why I don’t watch the Olympics,” fumed another.
“Leggings in beach volleyball are a fucking crime,” raged another.
In 2021, the Norwegian women’s beach handball team was fined for refusing to play the sport in bikini bottoms during the 2021 European tournament, indicating that gender disparities in beach sports still exist.
Each player was fined approximately £126, making a total of approximately £1,267.
The European Handball Federation released a statement saying: ‘The Beach Handball EURO 2021 Disciplinary Committee has dealt with a case of inappropriate clothing.
‘In the bronze medal match against Spain on Sunday, the Norwegian team played in shorts that did not comply with the athlete dress code as set out in the IHF Beach Handball Rules of the Game.
‘The Disciplinary Committee has decided to impose a fine of €150 per player, totaling €1,500.’