# Beach Volleyball. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384 "2004-08-18T13:40:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/61 "2004-08-19T21:31:43Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > It may not be played on ice, but I bet it involves a couple of guys with brooms. Actually, it’s more like the white-water event. It involves having my head in close proximity to rapidly swirling water. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/62 "2004-08-19T22:31:34Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > No, no, no! Speedos\* should be reserved for serious swimmers ONLY because it looks like a bunch of marbles stuffed into a lycra bag. No exactly the stuff for fantasies. Nope, give me a man in shorts and t-shirts (or bare) anytime. There’s nothing finer than a sinewy, sandy professional beach volleyball player, IMO. > > \*I do like the new swimmers’ outfits (lycra unitards or pants that fit verrrry low on the hips) though I wonder how hard it is to remove those suckers at the end of the day. Ok, maybe not Speedos, I was just trying to think of something analogous to the women’s bikinis. I definitely know which outfits you are talking about! While I prefer men with a little more meat on their bones, I can’t help wondering just how high you could bounce a gold medal off the stomach of some of those swimmers. wow Oh, by the way, I am thinking that with a little talcum powder and some serious determination you could get those suits off pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/63 "2004-08-20T03:56:13Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > … nobody’s forcing anybody to wear anything. Then why are they **wearing** anything? They could have somebody paint their country’s name on their backs and be done with it. I just want to say that it’s about time the IOC gave straight men something to watch during the Summer Games. Too long has primetime been clogged with men’s basketball, track, and diving with the only major women’s sport being gymnastics, and as **Ferret Herder** said, most of them are underage or look it (though there was this Russian on the balance beam tonight who looked 22). Beach volleyball is easily the greatest sport to hit the Olympics in decades and ever since the rules were changed to prevent a repeat of Katerina Witt falling out of her costume it has replaced figure skating in my heart. But I am _still_ not as shallow as **BobLibDem**. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/64 "2004-08-20T04:51:29Z")
Whenever I feel like a slime for ogling Mohini Bhardwaj, I’ll think of **BobLibDem** and not feel so bad. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/65 "2004-08-20T04:55:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Why isn’t there an olympic sport fucking event? Yep. 'Bought time Ron Jeremy got a gold medal. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/66 "2004-08-20T05:55:03Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Oh, come off it. Nobody’s demanding anything of anybody. The original Games were held naked. And, lest we get off into a protofeminist argument, there are [no FIVB-mandated uniform standards](http://www.fivb.ch/EN/Volleyball/Rules/Rules.htm) for beach volleyball, so nobody’s forcing anybody to wear anything. That turns out not to be the case. I took the liberty of opening that webpage (which, incidentally, sucks) and [http://www.fivb.ch/en/beachvolleyball/rules/rules.htm](http://www.fivb.ch/en/beachvolleyball/rules/rules.htm) actually does have a link to a PDF file named “Beach Volleyball Official Uniforms’ Guidelines for the Olympic Games 2004”. The link is, however, broken. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/67 "2004-08-20T13:38:12Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Whenever I feel like a slime for ogling Mohini Bhardwaj, I’ll think of **BobLibDem** and not feel so bad. Dude, she’s 26. What state do you _live_ in? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/68 "2004-08-20T13:58:09Z")
Not only that, she’s been able to stay in the sport because of financing from Pamela Anderson (Lee). Ogle away. Just don’t let the wife/gf catch you. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/69 "2004-08-20T14:16:49Z")
> [@Spiny Norman](#): > > That turns out not to be the case. I took the liberty of opening that webpage (which, incidentally, sucks) and [http://www.fivb.ch/en/beachvolleyball/rules/rules.htm](http://www.fivb.ch/en/beachvolleyball/rules/rules.htm) actually does have a link to a PDF file named “Beach Volleyball Official Uniforms’ Guidelines for the Olympic Games 2004”. The link is, however, broken. A report I heard on NPR yesterday seemed to say that the bikinis were required for the women for the Olympics. I have been unable to find online documentation of that, however. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/70 "2004-08-20T17:53:56Z")
[It would appear that the bikini is regulation wear.](http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/volleyball/history.html) I’m still not sure if it’s the ONLY thing a competitor can wear, though. FIVB website still doesn’t want to cooperate. But McPeak has exactly the right attitude. If it’s a side benefit that puts butts in the seats, and it doesn’t take away from how the game is played, then so be it. It’s still the score that matters. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/71 "2004-08-20T18:57:10Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > But McPeak has exactly the right attitude. If it’s a side benefit that puts butts in the seats, and it doesn’t take away from how the game is played, then so be it. It’s still the score that matters. I disagree. I don’t think “butts in the seats” should be the bottom line. The Olympics isn’t just about making money. There ought to be a certain amount of dignity, as well as tradition, to the games. I realize that the first Olympic competitors were nude, but I doubt that the reason for that was to titilate. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/72 "2004-08-20T19:14:14Z")
Ummmm… Re-read (or just read) my words that you quoted. > [@](#): > > side benefit… doesn’t take away how the game is played… still the score that matters… You aren’t disagreeing with me. Butts in the seats is not the bottom line. But hey, if you want to go to a beach volleyball game or a gymnastics meet or a rowing regatta BECAUSE we wear tight clothes, hey, your money is just as green as anyone else’s. And I’ve got no chance of making you a fan if you aren’t at the event. So come for a bogus reason. Stay for the real reason. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/73 "2004-08-20T19:36:23Z")
I could have sworn I saw some women’s beach volleyball this week where the women were wearing one-piece outfits. And no, they weren’t topless. Peach or orange fabric, don’t remember the country, but it was central European… dang. Short-haired blonde ladies. Not wearing bikinis. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/74 "2004-08-20T21:09:36Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Ummmm… > > Re-read (or just read) my words that you quoted. > > You aren’t disagreeing with me. Butts in the seats is not the bottom line. > > But hey, if you want to go to a beach volleyball game or a gymnastics meet or a rowing regatta BECAUSE we wear tight clothes, hey, your money is just as green as anyone else’s. And I’ve got no chance of making you a fan if you aren’t at the event. So come for a bogus reason. Stay for the real reason. Oh, _excuse_ me. All right, it shouldn’t be a “side benefit” then, Mr. Particular. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/75 "2004-08-20T21:11:16Z")
Sorry, you might be _Ms._ Particular. Don’t want you busting my balls for _that_, either. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/76 "2004-08-20T22:31:29Z")
Having read only the OP, I predict that at least 50% of the replies defending beach volleyball as an Olympic sport focus on the appeal of watching buff bodies in skimpy swimsuits. I shall now go and read the rest of the thread. I promise to come back here and eat crow if my prediction’s wrong. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/77 "2004-08-20T22:42:20Z")
The tallying was trickier than I expected, but I think the pro-cheesecake ratio of pro-beach volleyball responses worked out to something like 12/22. IOW, no crow for me. Y’all in the Pit are getting too predictable. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elenfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cc9497/32.png) [@Elenfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elenfair)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/78 "2004-08-20T22:48:18Z")
What I want to know is - why isn’t Dog Agility (at the Masters/Elite level) an olympic sport yet? It requires a hell of a lot more energy and physical involvement from the handler than all the equestrian “sports” combined! YEAH! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/79 "2004-08-20T23:35:20Z")
[Link to FIVB Beach Volleyball Regulations for Athens](http://www.fivb.org/EN/BeachVolleyball/Competitions/Olympics/WATH2004/2004%20Specific%20Events%20Regulations.pdf) **Warning: PDF** The relevant section: > [@](#): > > **24.2 Standards** > The men and women players’ uniforms must correspond to the standards herein indicated. Note: These standards are based on the uniforms used in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. No commercial trademark or design other than that of the Manufacturer and authorized prints as per FIVB regulations may appear on any accessories and/or clothing. > > The official men’s uniform for the Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament consists of: > > - a tank top and shorts > - eventual accessories > > The official women’s uniform for the Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament consists of: > > - a top and briefs > or > - a one piece uniforms > - eventual accessories > > Players from the same team must wear identical uniforms (style, fabric and color). and > [@](#): > > **24.3 Men’s Uniforms** > • Style (see diagram) > The tank top must fit closely to the body and the design must be with open > arms, respecting the space for the required placements of the manufacturer > trademark, player number, country flag and country code, also respecting > the place for the player’s name. > The shorts must be in accordance with the enclosed diagram and not be > baggy. For all players the bottom of the shorts must be a minimum of 15cm > above the top of the knee cap. > • Fabric > The tank top must be made of elastic material, preferably Lycra or a > combination of Lycra/cotton, or other similar good quality synthetic material. > > **24.4 Women’s Uniforms** > • Style (see diagram) > The top must fit closely to the body and the design must be with deep > cutaway armholes on the back, upper chest and stomach (2-piece), > respecting the space for the required for the manufacturer logo, player > number, country flag and country code, and the place for the player’s > name. > The briefs should be in accordance with the enclosed diagram, be a close > fit and be cut on an upward angle towards the top of the leg. The side width > must be maximum 7 cm. > The one piece uniform must closely fit and the design must be with open > back and upper chest, respecting the space for the required inscriptions to > be made. > • Fabric > The top and briefs or the one piece uniform must be made of elastic > material, Lycra or a combination of Lycra/cotton, or other similar quality > synthetic material. There’s a lot more detail in the PDF. Basically, they can choose between a one piece or two piece outfit, but it has to be very form fitting made of some kind of stretchy/elastic material. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384/80 "2004-08-21T00:40:46Z")
Oh, it’s Mr. Particular. > [@](#): > > Oh, excuse me. All right, it shouldn’t be a “side benefit” then, Mr. Particular. And why _shouldn’t_ it be a side benefit? If you play a fringe sport, which beach volleyball certainly is, then you DO want to fill seats. Cheesecake gets people to the games. Hopefully interest keeps them there. But one way or the other, the more successful the Tour is, the easier it is for the players to make a living at volleyball and not have to wait tables in the offseason. No “real” job offers months off for National Team training. Mine didn’t. Neither did those of any other National Teamer I’ve met (and that’s been quite a few). Women who watch the NFL go ga-ga over the butt factor (Sorry, ladies, but most of it is padding). If you think many women at NBA games are there exclusively for the purity of the sport, you’re mistaken. That may be part of it, but it’s not all of it, and who cares? I like beach volleyball. I think it’s fun to watch, and I get ito the matches. But I’m not ignorant of the fact that Misty May is ridiculously hot, and I refuse to pretend to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beach-volleyball/260384.md?page=5)