1

To reiterate what I said earlier, if men wear tiny speedos for swimmimg and diving competitions, shouldn’t women wear tiny bikinis for swimming and diving competitions? All of a sudden the gender differences in uniforms are a big deal to some people regarding beach volleyball, but none of you complainers have anything to say about men being on the short end of the stick for years in other sports where swimsuits are worn. As Mathew said, men in swimming and diving don’t get to pick their outfits even if they are modest; are female swimmers and divers complaining that they wear suits with much more coverage than males? Of course not. Why not ask for equality in that case, too? Again, women are smaller than men yet wear swimsuits with three to four times as much fabric in other sports. So before you complain about the uniform situation in one fairly new sport, why not talk about the gender inequity that has existed for many, many years in aquatic sports? And Jessica, please don’t brush off my reasoning by saying that I’m just rationalizing that "bikinis are a-okay" this time. I’m trying to point out that there’s a huge double standard involved here that many find it convenient not to talk about. Thank you very much.

2

I have a question about the uniforms worn in volleyball (not beach). Each team seems to have one player with a uniform a different color than the others. What is the significance and/or reasoning for this? I understand that goalies in soccer wear a different color but don’t understand the purpose of this in volleyball.

3

AFTER POSTING THE ABOVE MESSAGE, I FOUND THIS:

1. THE “LIBERO” PLAYER

Each team has the option to register one specialised defensive player, “Libero” among the final list of 12 players for the whole tournament. The specific rules for a Libero player are as follows: He/she is restricted to performing as a back row player and has no right at all to complete an attack hit when the ball is above the height of the top of the net.

B) The Libero may not serve, block or attempt to block.

C) The Libero must wear a different colour shirt from the other members of the team.

D) Substitutions involving a Libero are not counted as regular and their number is unlimited. A Libero cannot take part in normal substitutions and may only enter or leave the game while the ball is out of play and before the whistle for service.

E) It is necessary to have a rally between replacement of two different players involving a Libero. With the previous approval of the first referee, an injured Libero may be substituted during the match by any registered player within the normal line-up list of the score sheet.

G) The designated replacement of a Libero will be limited to performing as a Libero for the rest of the match and the subsequent matches. Nevertheless, this player will be allowed to be registered again in the normal line-up of later matches once the initially registered Libero is officially re-instituted.

H) No other player will be authorised to perform as a Libero and in the case of further injury of the originally registerd Libero, he/she will be replaced by the same player under the same conditions as stated in previous points.

4

As someone who has competed at a relatively high level in beach volleyball (not at the olympic level though), I couldn’t agree more about the bikinis. I don’t care for them and they just get wedged up in there. But my personal suggestion, and hold off the attack until you hear me out, would be to let us wear thongs. It might not seem politically correct, but the fact is that it would be more comfortable. I would not have to dig them out between every point. And it is not like I need to worry about people seeing my bum - they are already getting a full view anyway. Fact of the matter is, for underwear, thong panties have become so popular because they are comfortable and they eliminated that darn ride up/wedgie thing. Most women I know wear them, or at least own a pair. Even looking at them with regards to the human body they make the most sense for any athletic sport. I’m sure they’d be more comfortable for diving, swimming, gymnastics, etc…but of course it has never been about comfort!

Anyway, that’s my two cents. While we are at it, let’s at least get the suits coming up a little higher. I for one would much rather have my lower abs covered up than my bum!

5

i think if women ahve to wear bikinis then men musn’t wear shirst, isnt that like playing on the beach?

6

Sex does sell. The pro volleyball league switched to the two piece rule when the league was going bank rupt, now look at the league it is booming. Also I play on the beach all the time and the fact is it is much more comfortable to play in a two piece suit the a one piece or bagging shorts.

7

Hello. I live outside of Chicago Illinois, and have been on the swim team in high school.

Here is my view of it. Why do women wear skimpy suits more than men most of the time? Beacuse males dominate everything in terms of production. How many women are in charge of arrangign the sports competition? How many women run the companies that offer the various suits? It’s just like HOllywood folks, Men run the industry, which is why a woman’s front will be seen in some movie with some eroticism and you will barely get a view of the guys a$$.

Also, I think women should be able to wear a little more than men though. I mean, two bouncing breasts during volleyball would get in the way. Madonna once said she requires a tight bra cause when she dances heavily (on stage, back in the 80’s, before she had kids) her breasts bothered her. So there ya go.

Also, high school males should be given a CHOICE to wear speedos or not. We had "diving speedos"…they were like normal speedos, but pure nylon, and smaller. So, your was clearly seen almost right through. And in high school, the wind itself would set off a boy’s hormones. Even the purest of heterosexual males has been known to admit that wearing something silky up against your downerregions was enough to cause "reaction" in a male way…and that’s embarassing, especially in front of your male peers.

The bottom line is people should just be given choices. Espeically if they are self consciouss. In freshmen year of High school, I was very developed as a male, and I was extremely overconscious about it enough to try to get away with wearing a bigger swim suit that covered more. So just give people choices, let them do what they want, and then, if you don’t agree with it, dont’ criticize them.

If a guy wants to show off his assets, it shouldn’t bother you unless you are jealous. Same with women. And if they want to be more modest, than that is their choice also.

Thanks for reading. ~Mathew.

8

That’s a very reasonable argument, Mathew - thank you!

9

This is probably late in the game, but I can’t help but point out that the highest-profile players in the sport have been on record as saying that they have no problem with the regulation uniform. Misty May and Kerri Walsh have said that it’s a beach sport and women who play it wear bikinis. Even when prompted that most of the men attending the events only do so because of the women’s attire, they say that if that’s why they show up, fine. They’ll come back because of the pace of the game and quality of the athletes.

10

I don’t know if any of you sports fans have heard of Vicky Botwright. She is a pro-squash player from England. During the 2001 final she requested to wear a thong during her last game against a player seated as the 5 th best in the world. I’ll spare you the details of the entire story (you can read all about it with a simple web search of her name) but seated at 19th at the time Vicky Botwright claimed she needed every edge possible. There is a lot of controversy out there about exactly why she wanted to do it, a lot of people thought it was a publicity stunt. Regardless I think she brought up an interesting point, sometimes performance is the most important aspect of clothing. It would make sense that people should be able to wear what leads to the best performance, spandex shorts or thongs - both of which have been suggested here.

11

hey everyone, im doing a college project on the fact that beach volleyball uniforms are so tiny, and have found a bunch of useless info and was wondering if u could help me out by giving me any new facts and information,i would be very intersested in some volleyball players that dont agree with the tiny kit and about the "bunch of women volleyball players that rebelled a few years ago" that are mentioned on the 2nd paragraph of this web site. thanks so much laura

12

i think that the women shouldn’t have to wear bikini’s because if they fall down without meening to they might hurt themselves across the stomach! It can be possible! I think they should have their own choice in what they wear!

13

If women wear bikinis for beach volleyball, would women also like men to wear bikinis as their uniforms!?

14

i am doing an assignment on body image in relation to beach volleyball and you have a very valid arguement. Wearing a bikini for such an active sport must be impractical and uncomfortable. The BVB sponsors should be ashamed.

15

Jack, have you considered the fact that women’s swimsuits have more fabric than men’s because women have a lot more to cover? And men *do* get to pick their outfits in swimming - if you’ve watched any recent swimming competition, you’ll see a good proportion of the men wearing *full-body* suits - you don’t get much more coverage than that.

16

Thanks for responding, Jessica. Women have a *little* bit more to cover, not three to four times as much. Just because women need to legally cover their breasts doesn’t mean that the whole midsection has to be covered also. A bikini does a perfect job of covering what women need to cover, just like a man’s swimsuit does. The full body suits are a very recent development, are extremely expensive, and are only worn at the very top levels of competition. Most swimmers below the Olympics and top colleges are still not wearing them (or can’t afford them.) Divers like Mathew still don’t get any choice. Neither do male water polo players or competitors in other aquatic sports that don’t strictly involve lap swimming. Like I said before, go to any high school or park district swim team event and you’ll see the disparity, or *any* co-ed diving competition. Women have a huge array of choices in swimwear, bikinis, tankinis, and one-pieces that range from skimpy to covering all the way to the neck to ones with skirts attached. Men’s choices are either a teeny Speedo style or trunks, and nothing that covers above the waist unless you want to spend a fortune on the full-body style. I just think that it’s hypocritical to complain about women wearing bikinis in one sport when men wear so much less than women in so many aquatic sports. Wearing bikinis for beach volleyball is just a little affirmative action for all these years of inequality. You can’t argue with affirmative action, can you? That would be politically incorrect. I just love this debate! Let’s keep it going, Jessica. I love hearing your arguments. Thank you very much.

17

I’m with you jack!

18

Jack is right. At our club a lot of the girls wear bodysuits while the gus are mainly in speedos. Great for us girls though!

19

First, the women choose what they wear.

Second, as a female that plays sand volleyball in my "bikini" or whatever, there are a few reason we (or I) wear mine. Once you get completely covered in sand and dirt, it’s nice to hop in the ocean, second, sports bras are like shovels when it comes to diving, add a sports bra to a tank top, and you can easily gather a pint of sand in just your top half. As far as the bottoms go, they get the minimal amount of sand in the pants. They are just like wearing spandex, which lets face it, for those that play college or competitively… we wear little spandex because it is more versatile and easier for sliding. When you also think of playing for 10 hours in 80 degree weather… yeah, let me see you run around in the sand for that long and see how many clothes come off…

For more casual players, I’m sure the women prefer NOT to have a farmer’s tan…

I also find it disappointing that swimmers wear bathing suits, gymnasts and iceskaters wear so little, yet no one says much of anything about their outfits, only their talent.

20

Who cares?

21

I agree. I couldn’t care less either.

Yes, that’s right - I couldn’t care less, not I could care less: think about it.

Oh, and it’s Wimbledon, not Wimbleton.

22

I think it’s just accepted that female athletes show more than men (at least in the leg/butt department). No doubt it is encouraged because men, incuding myself, like it, but that’s just the way it is - both sexes seem to have liked it for a long time. Just look at the skimpy clothes worn by (compared to men) track and field athletes (where I’ve seen more butt than at the beach volleyball), the skimpy little skirts figure skaters, leotards by gymnasts, skirts by tennis players. Here in Australia, we play netball, and the girls’ skirts barely cover their butts. But no-one seems to mind. So live and let live, I say.

23

and talking about gender equality, why don’t women go around topless, just like the men?

24

Well…because it’s illegal?

25

Exactly, why should it be illegal if equality is all women are after?

26

First of all, it is a sport born on the beach in California where most women are wearing bikini’s and most men are wearing baggy shorts.

So, it’s perfectly logical that that would later become the uniform.

Second, having played both beach volleyball and soccer I can tell you that sometimes the baggy shorts (soccer) are more irritating than the bikini. The material sticks to your legs and add sand to the heat and sweat and quite frankly, the bikini bottom is more comfortable.

The BEST women’s uniform is field hockey. A skirt. Perfect. Coverage without the stickiness factor.

27

Agreed, but those are the rules. Yes, the Olympic rules for Beach Volleyball call for bottoms on women to be no more than 7 cm and men’s to be a minimum of 15 cm above the knee. (see http://www.ocua.ca/node/view/1881 or Olympic event regulations: http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/Olympics/WATH2004/2004%20Specific%20Events%20Regulations.pdf) It just seems ridiculous than there is a maximum size put on women’s uniforms. If a women is more comfortable with a larger suit on the bottom(maybe even a one-peice, Olympic Gods forbid) then she should be allowed to wear it.

28

I truly agree with what you are saying! I play Volleyball, but we wear regular clothes, but we do wear the spandex shorts, but bikini’s NO!!!!

29

I agree with courney, we are doing body image in relation to volleyball and its influences on adolescents, i find the young women attractive who play but i guess the girls want to perv on the guys as well.

30

Have you ever complained about how small men’s swimsuits are compared to women’s in competitive swimming and diving? Men, who are bigger to begin with, wear a costume that has about a third as much cloth as a woman’s. Go to any local pool or school when a coed swim team is working out if you don’t believe me. I’m not talking about those new super-expensive neck-to-ankles suits that only a very few people wear. And don’t talk about hydrodynamics blah blah to me—a female diver in a sports two-piece would stand no more chance of losing her suit than a male; they both have drawstring bottoms and the top has the same setup as a one-piece. It’s just modesty, which the men are not allowed to have. There are many years of history of women in the olympics and below being more covered up than men in swimming and diving, and it continues almost unabated today. I’ve heard women make lustful remarks about nearly naked male swimmers and divers during every Olympics. You’re just upset because we men are finally getting a little payback.

31

GIVE ME A BREAK! Lighten up, has it occurred to you that the women picked their outfits? Well, they did. Stop being so prude for the love of God!!!!!!

32

First of all, the word that you’re looking for is “prudish”, not “prude”. Secondly, no, the women do not in fact pick their outfits, hence the rebellion by the women volleyball players that I mentioned above. Thirdly, I stated clearly in my post that it’s not even so much the bikinis that bother me, it’s the heavy breathing that comes from the male television presenters as they ogle these fit young women bounding about in the sand.

And finally, I just love the fact that the two women who have posted comments here said yeah, the bikinis are ridiculous, while two of the three men who have left comments have rationalized why the bikinis are a-okay and shouted at me to lighten up. Thank you, I think that speaks for itself.

33

The uniforms are supposed to look sexy, but they just look stupid. I mean, the tops are designed more like sports bras, but instead of sports briefs they wear teeny-weeny bikini bottoms- it doesn’t even match! Very ugly. Sports briefs or shorts (even micro shorts) would look much better. More importantly, the uniforms are very impractical- I imagine that having a major wedgie would impair one’s performance when playing the game… but then again, every other player also has a major wedgie, so I guess it’s evened out. Even though some athletes rebelled about the uniform, they generally don’t mind… I actually remember one athlete saying, “we should be proud of our bodies”. Well fair enough. But to be REALLY fair: if the women HAVE to wear bikini bottoms and generally don’t mind, then fine… as long as the men have to go topless! Hey, shouldn’t they be proud of their bodies?

34

its good to see beautiful women but i guess same should be done for benefit of female fans

35

You know, maybe I’ve just missed the whole point of athletics. I thought the idea was to watch people participating in a competitive sport - what the people actually look like themselves seems completely irrelevant to me. I personally don’t watch Olympic swimming to ogle people in bathing suits, I watch to see people *swim*. It’s not what an athlete’s body looks like but rather what they are able to do with it that’s fascinating.

36

Well, you know what they say, “Sex sells!” What’s next? Beach volleyball with G-string bottoms? Be afraid!

37

I have seen plenty of beach volleyball played in the nude, so I don’t see what the problem is.

38

Amen!!! I thought all these thoughts when I saw the USA vs. Asian beach volleyball team (two-woman teams) play the other night. The women’s team for the USA had on bottoms that were not just tiny bikini but BRAZILIAN cut - which means it’s just this side of a thong - and with every leap, it wedged up into their crack and BECAME a thong. They pulled it out between every play, and they looked very uncomfortable and self-conscious. Tell me this did not affect their performance. Let’s see the men’s team in the same if this is acceptable!!!

39

I am a red blooded male and love to look at beautiful female bodies but it seems unbelievably sexist to insist that female volleyball players must wear tiny bikini uniforms and the men are allowed to wear more conservative clothing.

40

How many people would watch women’s beach volleyball if they were dressed like (or looked like) WNBA players?

Let’s face it, sex sells. The athletes know it - that’s why *they* don’t protest wearing bikinis.

So, if your product ain’t scintillating, at least make it titallating…

41

I like how their butts look.

42

I think Logan Tom is hot and she plays on the indoor team wearing a normal uniform.

The sumu people were required to allow shorts under the traditional sumu uniform for sumu to be considered for inclusion in the olympics. Why not beach volleyball?

In general I like bouncing women in bikinis but it’s obvious these women are struggling to look dignified in uncomfortable uniforms they did not choose to wear. Give them more flexibility.

43

What i can’t believe is that is 2004 there has been absolutely so little progress in the (unfortunate) “battle” of gender equality that we are even talking about this. As a fit athlete myself i can’t imagine what woman out there could train so hard and then sell herself short to something so free as sex. They must know that it is much too dificult to concentrate on volleyball with those shorts ridding up their ass and that they are totally discrediting themselves by distracting audiences from their long developed athletic talent.

44

I agree… I also live with you. But I do agree… I’m a man and I agree. I’m a male volleyball player and I agree. Get the idea?

45

Hey I was just googling and looking for the answer to that very same question and I came to this place. I was looking for more of a “scientific” reasoning, but I can’t find anything.

46

On the one side I can see why women would wear those things if they are actually comfortable, the same way elite runners wear ‘em, but there is one big difference: runners don’t dive into sand. Read an article this morning about some clothing maker who supplied defective (too-tight) bikinis and other attire for Olympians…a mistake?? I don’t think so!

47

Not all of the women players want to wear bikinis. With the help of the Women’s Sports Foundation some of the women petitioned to change the uniform to spandex shorts, but have been denied. Meanwhile the men’s uniform was changed for the Olympics to require shirts.

48

I am an American living in Italy… a country where almost every woman on TV, even the news journalists, shows 2 to 6 inches of cleavage at all times.

While watching women’s volleyball yestderday, the Italian announcer nonchalantly stated that the Italian Volleyball Federation (http://twww.federvolley.it) encouraged the players to wear the most revealing uniforms possible to attract viewers.

Surely athletes don’t mind being admired for their fit, athletic bodies. But it’s a sad day in sports when that’s what the spectators come for, rather than respecting the women for their athletic prowess!

49

Note to Mario, above: You must be Italian. “Sei veramente eloqente, scemo.”

50

I totally agree with Jessica in every point.

Michael, yes other sports like gymnastics and track have barely covering outfits for women, such like diving has skimpy clothing for both men and women (no matter who’s got the nuder clothing). Just because other sports outfits are un-covering doesn’t make beach volleyball outfits acceptable, all such wears are not acceptable in my opinion, and not accepted by MANY of these athletes who wear them, but are obliged to.

As for jack about the inequality issue, men wear skimpier outfits in a few aquatic sports, but women wear nude outfits in most of other clothing… I don’t see why a trampoline gymnast should be jumping and straddling in a leotard while a man wears baggy trousers doing almost the same moves as women. Same for beach volleyball, if players have problem with sand and sun then both genders have the same problem not only women and both should wear the same outfit size.

51

OMG, i can not believe how little you people think and miss the whole point… The only reason people watch woman’s beach voleyball now is because of the fact that they are nude… is ir really fair for men to wear tank tops and long shorts and women bikinis… its not only in the sports that women are being mistreated. Women are as good as men in any sport or in any task for that matter. we should try and change this. I know that we can, the only thing we need is a bit of courage to speak up. The only thing that media is doing is to show that women are only good at modelling and nothing else. I was a model and an athlete but i quit both of them and the reason was that whatever i do people take advantage of me. so i decided to stop and try to fix the problem first.

52

I think a whole lot of you are missing the point of beach volleyball uniforms. As a beach volleyball player at an elite level, i admit that I wear the so-called ‘under-sized’ uniforms daily - and i wouldn’t consider wearing anything else!

The beauty of beach volleyball is that it is set in a climate and facility that allows us to wear a uniform that in no way hampers our ability to play the sport. Once you wear the two piece uniform, the freedom it offers is amazing - to the point that if you go back to playing in "baggy shirt and shorts" that so many of you seem to think is the ‘appropriate’ thing to wear, it feels like a chore to play and dive with the extra clothes.

So, wear baggy shorts? Well, let me tell you; a huge percentage of the men who play top-level beach volleyball would like to wear shorter shorts, but stick with the baggy board shorts because of the ‘fashion’. I guess that "gender equality/freedom/stereotype" idea that many of you people have going swings both ways, huh.

Yes, it is a shame that wearing these uniforms has caused some people to view this sport with less respect for the skill, agility and fitness that it requires - yet just like any other sports-person out there we play for the sheer love of the game. And yes, obviously, I would like people to support, respect and view me as a serious athlete of a serious and demanding sport - but at the end of the day, if they decide not to, that’s life guys. But please, don’t put our wearing of these uniforms down to a lack of courage! Although I accept that many people believe it is so, it just demonstrates how little you know and understand about the role and views of many women in sport. Personally, I think that to dive, run and jump wearing our regulation uniforms (sides no bigger that 7cm) needs a huge amount of courage :) - we are wearing these uniforms despite the negative remarks and consequences they bring to our sport.

53

Like Keana above (#7), aesthetically, I think microshorts would look better. There’s obviously differences of opinion about what is most comfortable functionally.
Why not allow more options than a wedgie producing bikini? To each booty her own

54

Has anybody considered the fact that the Olympics are now pretty much PG13, thank’s to Womens Beach Volleyball. What about young girls? Is this a good role model for them? I don’t think so. I recently saw a few minutes of a Professional Womens Beach Volleyball, probably pre-Olympic game, and one of the players dove for the ball, with her bottoms severly riding up, guess where the camera was focused??? Her crack as she dove into the sand — I think that say’s it all, but I’ll continue. Unfortunately, sexism degrading women in American is governed by 3 types of people: 1) Men who first made it and continue to promote it through the media for lots of $$$; 2) Women who’ll take any amount of $$$$ to disrespect themselves, could care less about modestly, could care less about being the object of lustful male fascination; and could care less about what young girls think and being a good example; and 3) the male consumer that forks out the money to have his sexual appetite filled. Why do the Olympics have to be tained by sexism? I always thought the Olympics were for spectators of all ages, not just men. In most Olympic sports the female body will be covered much less then the male body of the same sport. THERE ARE CHILDREN THAT WATCH THE OLYMPICS. LET’S KEEP IT RATED G, OR AT WORST PG. ***By the way Jack F., some women may look at a guy in a speedo, but most women won’t lust, some will, but most won’t even be phased by a speedo. As a matter of fact, I think most women find the full length beach trunks much more appealing. Many women are actually grossed out by speedos.

55

Chris P. Bacon, you are a sexist sad young man, I often view women sport not because of the skimpy clothing but because their great talent they display

56

Why are so many people offended by this? The sport is BEACH volleyball - why the men aren’t wearing something more condoning to the sport is probably based on style and culture alone… there will always be changing uniforms as time goes on - maybe it will be a thong next - is it really something that our young daughters and sons aren’t going to see at some point in their lives anyway? Why are we trying to call admiration "perversion?" If looking at young, healthy women bounce around in the sand is wrong, what the hell is right?- You’re confusing and suppressing your son’s and daughter’s natural impulses! Why can’t we admire the athlete’s body? It IS the Olympics (think nude Greece) - the gathering was built on admiring not only the athletic ability, but also the aesthetic appeal of the athlete’s body - don’t deny that you are amazed every single time. As far as the feminist approach goes, yes, we do have a problem with women being treated as sex objects, but more and more so it is happening with men too - which if the two are equally sexualized, where is the sexism? If you want people to stop looking at porn - make them watch the Olympics- it’s a healthy thing to admire - and you shouldn’t have to feel like you’re doing something wrong in doing so! I’m starting to ramble…

57

having just watched a women’s beach volleyball tourney this morning, I didn’t see any "bouncing" at all, but did see toned, physically fit, athletic women who were diving into the sand and jumping for the blocks. The women playing at the elite level are not carrying around an excess of body fat that promotes curves or bouncing.me

58

Jack:

Your argument does not make sense regarding gender differences in swimsuits for one major reason: physics. Swimmers do everything they can to have an advantage in terms of speed. A bikini would cause more drag than a one piece for several reasons. There are more edges to it, which cause drag. Women who have any fat on their body have breasts that are not held in place as securely in a bikini top, which would also cause drag. So, yes, the men’s speedo style suits are smaller, but your argument that it is now men who are victims of sexism is out of line and insulting to women. It is also a distraction from this thread. There is a logical reason for the swimsuits to differ according to gender due to physics and anatomy. The same cannot be said for beach volleyball uniforms. And to those of you saying that some players don’t mind, you are being dismissive towards those women who do mind and who did protest.

59

The women’s beach volleyball outfits are rediculous and demeaning. Women have a hard enough time getting respect in the first place…..now they have to expose their ass & genitals in front of millions of horny men. The women were forced to wear these skimpy suits or they couldn’t play…as a former volleyball player I would have quit the sport.

60

The men should have to wear thongs & then everything would be even.

61

women & girls should protest all stupid skimpy outfits & boycot the sports that force them to wear them.

62

As a female athlete I want respect & I always dress decently…. these skimpy volleyball outfits should be banned because they are impractical & degrading.

63

As a female I do not want to see women’s asses & genitals in beach volleyball, track, ice skating, gymnastics & tennis….The men are not forced to wear such stupidity & all females should stand up & say no more!!!!!

64

Men should be equally exploited & see how they like it, let’s get rid of the Cheerleaders & put male football players in thongs & skimpy outfits when they are trying to compete seriously in sports & see how well they fare. The men would rebel!!!!!!!!!!

65

Men should have to wear the same exact uniform as women & then it would be fair.

66

what’s next women & girl athlete’s wearing thongs & playing their sports topless ??

67

The women’s beach volleyball bikini’s are VULGAR, DEGRADING, INSULTING, AND OFFENSIVE……BUT NBC WILL DO ANYTHING FOR THE MALE AUDIENCE AND HIGH RATINGS… and THE WOMEN PLAYERS ARE STUPID TO AGREE TO DRESS THIS WAY !!!!

68

HOW FABULOUS !!!! ANOTHER WAY TO EXPLOIT FEMALE BODIES SO YOU CAN MAKE A PROFIT…..LET’S ADD ANOTHER WAY TO DEGRADE WOMEN, JUST LIKE PLAYBOY AND PENTHOUSE ALREADY DO !!!!!

69

@monique I completely agree with you. The outfits are too skimpy if they are riding up the ladies’ butts. I think short loose shorts would be a better choice along with a tank top. Currently beach volleyball for women is nothing but soft porn. I really object to the way porn has crept into everything that has to do with women. From the Hooters restaurants to the VS ads to girls gone wild…I mean seriously. No wonder women are so objectified and sexually harrassed in their jobs. Our society is conditioning men to expect a porn experience everywhere, and it’s not right. I don’t feel I’m prudish for saying so. I don’t even necessarily object to porn, but I don’t need it creeping into the everyday. I’m not interested in being pressured to live it out.

70

If men can play a game well in shorts and a tank top, then females should have the same outfit on. What about gymnists? The males and females do the same activities, but the girls have outfits cut up their butts and they constantly have to pull them down to cover up. Why different outfits when they do the same activities? It is bec/ men make the rules and want to see females as sex objects - and sadly, females whore themselves out at any chance they get. Only when they get older do they realize it was a mistake, but then there is a whole new set of girls willing to do the exact same thing.

71

As a male diver, I can say clearly that shorts are too constrictive for the sport. I’ve also seen lots of women lose their top half when diving off 3m-10m boards/platforms. A bikini top for female divers would ALWAYS come off.

1-peice women’s suits don’t seem to work the same way. There are hydrodynamics which catch the top and pull it. If the water pull is strong enough (10m) and the fit of the suit just a little off, boobies!

Men’s speedos have a drawstring that can be tied fairly tight. On 1m, I didn’t worry too much. But on 3m, I tied it plenty tight.

I didn’t have any choice which suit was worn for competitions. There were contracts which forced the exact suit maker and pattern for meets. For practice, I’d wear a dark blue/black speedo. Didn’t like they lycra styles - held my junk just a little too much. I think women preferred the lycra over the nylon because it was thicker material.

For me it was less about the size of the suite and much more about how I felt wearing it. When I go to a pool for fun these days, I wear shorts for swimming. If I get on the board and do anything simple, those shorts always feel constraining.

I would be 100% behind (pun intended) women divers wearing thongs. Yes, I’m a perv and enjoy looking at fit butts.

I think for volleyball players, it really comes down to being comfortable based on what you wear during practice. A thong for them would be nice too. :)

72

I think the skimpy bikinis completely distract from the game. Sure they look incredible but the Olympic court is not the place for that kind of distraction, couldn’t they save that for some kind of sex show? It’s the same with the divers. Do the men wear the same up the ass suit? Some teams were more conservative with their asses hanging out and some seemed to flaunt it as much as possible. Why? Just a little distracting to me. It takes away from the extraordinary talent of the dive. I feel like an idiot admitting this!

73

I remember back when we did gymnastics and tumbling in P.E. class back in high school. The girls all wore the standard shorts and t-shirt uniform which had been issued to them back at the beginning of the school year. But we were joined (at least for the term in which we did gymnastics and tumbling) by a girl who was a senior at the time. She had the same shorts and t-shirt uniform, but for whatever reason chose not to wear it. She instead chose to wear leotards that were WAY too small for her, and went up her butt. She was always exposing her butt cheeks whenever she wore her leotards. But again, she CHOSE to wear her leotards, even though she apparently did not have a single pair that fit her correctly. The leotards were HER choice.

74

I played waterpolo. The thong-like women’s polo suits have nothing to do with water dynamics or freedom of lateral movement. They are there for viewership. Same with beach Volleyball. Please pardon me if I tell the truth. The BYU Cougarettes national champion dance team wears mid-thigh length leotards, and they make all kinds of ‘lateral’ movements. It only crass. Side eye.