I'm a Guy who enjoys his sport. In fact, I enjoy sport so much that I tend to watch it on the television. Sometimes - rarely - I move away from the PC screen and actually act out the actions of the sport itself! Now that we've established I am a man of sport, I'd like to raise the issue of an article I read recently regarding beach volleyball for women: Is the kit worn by the women too much - or too little?
With the preparation of the
London Olympics under way after Britain got the go-ahead for this 'exotic' sport, the cocktail of slender women, bikinis and balls really does got the mind flowing; however, has this sport become a victim of fashion rather than... Well, a sport? I'm sure we all remember
the infamous photo of George "Doubleyah" Bush, ex-president of the United States, having a gander at the backside of a member of the US beach volleyball team. Since then, nothing much seems to have changed in the sport having always held on to the male fantasy stereotype.
With the unveiling of the Great British team's uniform - what little of it there is to reveal - I'm starting to believe those roots are extremely hard to trim and the idea of a beach sport has been overtaken by chauvinistic dominance. The new kit is a recognisable piece covering the breasts yet has been downsized slightly along with an eyebrow-raising bikini thong-like garment.
The GB team's uniform. If you look closely, you can actually see some of it!
This
new bikini piece has been designed strategically allowing just enough space for the barcode to be located over the backside, allowing any smartphone user to be instantly linked to the betting website sponsoring the event. However, this controversial move was later met by the technical director of the International Volleyball Federation who was quoted in the
Daily Mail on Tuesday saying: "The bikini is their choice entirely. If they want to wear long shorts and longer shirts, they can." Of course, the views this sport receives from the male populace surely wouldn't sink if they covered a little more. Right?
While women from the Arab nations practice in the 44° forecast for the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the sheer heat of the London city is effecting the players terribly, with one player exclaiming that: "… in the heat, a bikini is just more comfortable."
Julie Bindell, a journalist for the UK-based newspaper "The Guardian" wrote the following as reaction:
"We rarely see women's sporting events on the main TV channels. Remember the recent kerfuffle when the BBC initially refused to broadcast England's quarter-final clash with France in the women's World Cup live on one of its main channels last month? Eventually giving in to calls from sports charities, feminist campaigners, viewers and even MPs, the game was shown on BBC2, despite the fact that it meant bumping a repeat episode of Porridge and antiques show Flog It!"
The uniform that has caused MPs, feminists and others to speak out really makes me wonder just why this go-ahead was given. See, I've always viewed this sport as one which has covert male intervention. Of course, allowing women to wear little clothing if they feel uncomfortable with exposing their body wouldn't fit well in a capitalistic dominated sport. Hounded by male eyes, it would simply shatter the need of watching, or at least searching for the lustful images of sweaty bums.
There's going to the beach wearing a bikini in order to get a suntan and there's trying to win a gold medal for your country in the Olympics.
Too much; too little?