to be offended at beach volleyball outfits

[Cheria]

I have nothing against women wearing bikinis, or even wearing nothing if that's their thing. But beach volleyball is considered a serious enough sport to merit a place in the Olympics and I think that it can't be taken seriously when the players are required to wear skimpy little outfits.

Articles like this one seem to prove my point.

There is the argument that clothes don't make the sport, and I agree. But AIBU to think that this is degrading and more treated as eye candy by randy old men (and journalists)? My sister, who is much more feminist than me, disagrees, and thinks the outfits are a celebration of women's bodies.

but men normally wear shorts on the beach. That is the argument for wearing shorts. The uniform reflects the culture of beach wear in California where the sport originated, and in the beach places like Australia where the sport is most popular

official rules

FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBAL

5.1 EQUIPMENT
5.1.1 A player?s equipment consists of shorts or a bathing suit. A jersey or ?tank-top? is
optional except when specified in Tournament Regulations. Players may wear a hat.
5.1.2 For FIVB World Competitions players of a given team must wear uniforms of the same
color and style according to tournament regulations.
5.1.3 Player?s uniforms must be clean.
5.1.4 Players must play barefoot except when authorized by the referees.
5.1.5 Player?s jerseys (or shorts if players are allowed to play without shirt) must be numbered
1 and 2. The number must be placed on the chest (or on the front of the shorts).
5.1.6 The numbers must be of a contrasting color to the jerseys and a minimum of 10 cm in
height. The stripe forming the numbers shall be a minimum of 1.5 cm wide

That doesn't actually seem to differentiate between men and women? So it seems fair, equal and non-exploitative to me? Seems to be plenty of choice there.

YANBU

Why is the focus of the camera on their arses anyway?
It should be on the ball! - that says it all for me.

Maybe they havent thought through weather issues in the UK either. I mean what if it snows?

mmmm agree with Ivor the UK weather could cause a problem. They may not look as nice if their bottoms go all mottled and goose pimply in the freezing british summer :(

Not read whole thread but was a bit at the clip on the news with the cheerleaders. I mean is this supposed to be a sporting event or something organised by peter stringfellow?

Anyway,

I imagine the teams have their costumes that they have to wear, so while teh rules may be quite broad, the teams themselves may enforce skimpier (or less skimpy) attire.

Also related is the hoo-ha about ping pong and how the people who run the sport want to make it compulsory for female players to wear more revealing clothes to make the sport more "popular". They have cited the lure of scantily clad female players in their thinking. Difference is, that female tennis players choose what they wear (or decide with their sponsors) AFAIK.

I will try to find a link.

Also as to whether it's fine for women to wear tiny things to do althletic sports or not or whatever - the point here I think is in the lecherous reaction of the commentators, which is just hideous.

I tell a lie it was badminton

here

love the quote at the end

"Paisan Rangsikitpho, the American deputy president of the BFW ? which has only two women on its 25-member board ? denied changes were an attempt to use sex to promote the sport. "We just want them to look feminine and have a nice presentation so women will be more popular." he said. "Interest is declining. Some women compete in oversize shorts and long pants and appear baggy, almost like men.""

GAH!

tut tut.........sad when a few scantily clad women have to save the day for badminton :(

Yes, it does come across as the sport designed by dirty old men for dirty old men. The sort who leered at schoolgirls in gym knickers.

I think they should mandate that the crowd wear long dirty brown raincoats in order to spectate or commentate. As that is how it comes across.

I have a nice arse, but I don't want to garrotte my rectum with lycra nor nor I want sand up my fanjo. I assume the women who play this have different nerves in their nether regions than I do, as I cannot think of anything more uncomfortable in terms of sport.

But its also their 'profession' people are paying to go and see this as a professional sport. Is it really fair if say a family go to see it and the kids get eyefuls of arse throughout?

I've always thought volleyball is a stupid and boring sport, and these photos just prove my point (they have to jazz it up with sex)

Volleyball is a great sport and extremely skillful. Love it and looking forward to watching it next year.

They focus on their "arses" because before each serve the non-serving player is doing a code behind her back, over her bottom, to the server. This is how they discuss tactics. So it would be pretty weird if the cameras didn't show it.

It is "beach" volley ball isn't it? On the beach, women tend to wear bikinis and men tend to wear board shorts (at least the ones with taste do - can't bear speedos). Given that it is a sport that came from the beach, it does make sense for players to wear what they would normally wear on the beach - eg - a bikini if female or board shorts if male. I agree some of the bikinis are skimpy, but thats what you would wear on the beach if you were playing so why change it?

And I agree with begonyabampot that it is a hugely exciting and skillful sport.

they look great,athletic physiques, wish i could wear one.

the men need to lose the vests

i vote male cheerleaders at the female games too. if it's gonna be a beachwear pervefest...

The best way to get these outfits banned or made more modest is if I with my post natal stretchmarks and leaky boobs start wearing one :o ! That would be a truly horrible thing at the moment.

Is 'ordinary' (ie not beach) volleyball an olympic sport?