Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Olympics and bikinis

63 replies

Andrea87 · 25/07/2021 09:25

I just heard that the Norwegian beach ball team were penalised for not wearing bikini bottoms but shorts , although it was only a short clip on tv so there may be more to it than about wearing skimpy clothes. I think that is out of order and if they want to wear something that is less revealing then that is ok, it should after all be about the sport.
It will be interesting to see what will happen when/ if the German gymnastic team wears full body leotards .
I think making it more about the sport and less about wearing sexy and revealing outfits should be welcomed.

OP posts:
LakieLady · 25/07/2021 09:29

I think it's bloody absurd that they're made to wear bikinis when the men play in shorts, and I'm glad they're taking a stand on this.

pastafeend · 25/07/2021 09:30

This has nothing to do with the olympics. It was the European handball federation.

CoronaPeroni · 25/07/2021 09:40

It's in the rules and they have to wear bottoms that are in keeping with the 'beach image' or some such crap. Interesting that men aren't forced to wear tight-fitting trunks. This should have been sorted years ago but good that it's been highlighted at the Olympics which has the highest public interest.

pastafeend · 25/07/2021 09:45

This should have been sorted years ago but good that it's been highlighted at the Olympics which has the highest public interest.

It was the Euro 2021 tournament. Not the olympics.

psychomath · 25/07/2021 09:53

It sounds stupid but then again loads of sports seem to have weird rules around dress codes. Why do players have to wear all white at Wimbledon, for example?

CounsellorTroi · 25/07/2021 10:02

And why do female gymnasts have to compete in leotards with no tights, while men can wear unitards or shorts and singlet?

CaptSkippy · 25/07/2021 10:15

There is a petition going on right now to put a stop to this:

www.change.org/p/handball-heads-drop-the-fine-and-let-them-wear-shorts

RandomLondoner · 25/07/2021 10:16

Interesting that men aren't forced to wear tight-fitting trunks

The article I read said men are requried to wear tight-fitting tank tops.

It sounds like both sexes are required to conform to a strict dress code that resembles some idea of beach-wear.

I do find it a bit odd that a sport like this has a tight dress code.

RandomLondoner · 25/07/2021 10:18

It will be interesting to see what will happen when/ if the German gymnastic team wears full body leotards.

The article I read didn't say anything about that being against the rules for gymnastics.

Dilbertian · 25/07/2021 10:25

It sounds like both sexes are required to conform to a strict dress code that resembles some idea of beach-wear.

Here are a few options that would fit. I wonder which would be the most practical for a vigorous supporting activity?

Olympics and bikinis
randomsabreuse · 25/07/2021 10:29

There's an obvious reason men don't compete in bikinis. Probably would not be comfortable.

Went for a run in shorts today, there is some noticeable resistance to lifting my leg vs before putting them on so I can see that a high leg bikini might well give fractional gains where leg lift is crucial (high jump, hurdles).

Clearly men have other risks attached to a bikini shape, which I assume would be uncomfortable enough to lead to distraction.

It's quite likely that comfortable attire is different for men and women!

KatherineOfGaunt · 25/07/2021 10:32

Ridiculously out-dated and a rule that was probably written by a man. Shorts have no impact on their ability to play the game.

newnortherner111 · 25/07/2021 10:34

We may think a particular outfit is uncomfortable, but that should not stop someone wearing it.

terrywynne · 25/07/2021 10:38

As pp have said, it is not at the Olympics. It is beach handball and it's a rule set by their international federation. The men wear baggy tops and shorts so nothing to no with performance. Theres a side by side photo of the men and women Norwegian teams that shows how ridiculous the rule is... even the shorts there wore are still shorter and more skin tight than the men.

Beach volleyball is at the Olympics and I believe their rules allow a choice of outfit (beach handball specifies no more than 10cm of fabric or something at the sides). However most of the teams I've seen still wear the bikinis. So it seems pretty culturally ingrained amongst the national bodies and/Or athletes.

Original poster
Andrea87 · 25/07/2021 11:24

[quote CaptSkippy]There is a petition going on right now to put a stop to this:

www.change.org/p/handball-heads-drop-the-fine-and-let-them-wear-shorts[/quote]
Thanks everyone and thanks Catskippy , interesting article .
Wimbledon - personally I like the white colour and the colour has nothing to do with the comfort/ skimpiness of the outfit ( not sure if there is such a word maybe it should be skimpicity.)
As said I only heard a short clip on the tv and hadn’t realised this was something that started with the Euros.

OP posts:
CounsellorTroi · 26/07/2021 15:12

I see the German gymnastic team competed in unitards. Good for them, hope it catches on.

www.sbs.com.au/news/in-a-stand-against-sexualisation-germany-s-female-gymnasts-wear-full-body-suits-at-tokyo-olympics?fbclid=IwAR2lnqzA01ZBTDu8ly_inFsfrFSqr4l6rhejgRzJCmGwrkAS7GYHWSFduy4

tallduckandhandsome · 26/07/2021 15:14

Women should be able to choose.

tallduckandhandsome · 26/07/2021 15:15

[quote CounsellorTroi]I see the German gymnastic team competed in unitards. Good for them, hope it catches on.

www.sbs.com.au/news/in-a-stand-against-sexualisation-germany-s-female-gymnasts-wear-full-body-suits-at-tokyo-olympics?fbclid=IwAR2lnqzA01ZBTDu8ly_inFsfrFSqr4l6rhejgRzJCmGwrkAS7GYHWSFduy4[/quote]
Love this.

ShippingNews · 26/07/2021 15:25

I read that the singer Pink is going to pay for any of the women's fines incurred for refusing to wear those sexualised outfits. Go Pink !

LizziesTwin · 26/07/2021 15:30

@ShippingNews

I read that the singer Pink is going to pay for any of the women's fines incurred for refusing to wear those sexualised outfits. Go Pink !
This is what happens when those pesky women start working outside the home.

I’m joking.

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 26/07/2021 15:33

@ShippingNews

I read that the singer Pink is going to pay for any of the women's fines incurred for refusing to wear those sexualised outfits. Go Pink !
Was just coming on to say this very thing @ShippingNews. Brilliant of her- and gets them publicity as the mood seems to be total outrage -hopefully change can happen!
tallduckandhandsome · 26/07/2021 15:36

Love Pink for this.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 26/07/2021 15:40

@randomsabreuse

There's an obvious reason men don't compete in bikinis. Probably would not be comfortable.

Went for a run in shorts today, there is some noticeable resistance to lifting my leg vs before putting them on so I can see that a high leg bikini might well give fractional gains where leg lift is crucial (high jump, hurdles).

Clearly men have other risks attached to a bikini shape, which I assume would be uncomfortable enough to lead to distraction.

It's quite likely that comfortable attire is different for men and women!

I think that male swimmers would also need to move their legs completely freely - but they were all wearing jammers in the pool.

Not noticed them swimming slower than the women, even the ones who you could see had a second layer on underneath.

GameSetMatch · 26/07/2021 15:44

The singer Pink has offered to pay the fine for the Norwegian team.

Janaih · 26/07/2021 15:48

Being a good egg is all in a days work for pink. Bravo lady!