Women's Beach Volleyball: A Soft Porn Sport?

[Guy]

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?

[MrHenry]

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?

Interesting. But, IMO way too much clothing Maybe.... take off the.... nvm

[Aru]

Too much text, more pics!

[Dave Strider]

IBTL

[T&D]

Well we go to the match of volebay to see soft po.. instead of match!!!...Yes I vote yes...

[Guy]

For once, my article has proven itself true. Grab me a Cuban while I celebrate this victory - and I don't even smoke!

Still has some worth though. Damn males! Damn you all! Ignore my name...

[SturmChurro]

I prefer this myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingerie_Football_League

[The Despondent Mind]

Tennis is also became an whore sport .

[Rebelyell]

How about nude beach volleyball? Actually, the people on nude beaches are never the ones you want to see naked, so scratch that idea.

[saglam2000]

Let them wear what they want, stop caring

[Aru]

For once, my article has proven itself true.

What article?

Oh, there are letters between the pictures!

I still think this thread needs more female volleyball players pics.
You know... to make me decide whether I agree with whatever you wrote in the article.

[Delenidas di Warlord]

What breasts?

[the_mango55]

I always watch this when it comes on saturday afternoons or whenever.

I like it when they zoom in on the players signing to one another

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This is actually one of the tamest pictures I could find, since I didn't want to brush up against the ToS.

Also, more pics with GWB

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That last one she actually wanted him to smack her on the ass but he went for the lower back instead. I wouldn't have had the strength to resist myself

[Exarch]

the volleyball players are overdressed; they ought to be in skimpier bikinies...or topless, yeah preferably topless<droool>.

but they should definitely ban fat girls from playing as they should ban all fat women from wearing bikinis

[D.B. Cooper]

Too much text, more pics!

This, more pics please.

[Niles Crane]

I still don't know what women's beach volleyball is, can someone post more pictures to explain?

[Claudius Gothicus]

The clothes in sports are functional to both mobility and dexterity in the performance of said sport while at the same time keeping with the customs and general ''idiosyncrasy'' of it.

I can't see how Bikinis in female beach volley is somewhat misogynistic when it clearly shows a great deal of functionality(it's a piece of cloth that doesn't get sand stuffed, gives wide mobility to both legs and arms, combats the heat and prevents fatigue etc.) in it's objectives.

Also, when taking the issue from idiosyncratic perspective we ought to remember that beach sports are played in beach clothes... like it or not modern western female clothings for the beach are dominated by bikinis.

Also... they add an aesthetic side to the performance.

[Mortality]

More pics, nao.

But seriously, who cares? They look hot. They seem to be quite enjoying the sport. So who gives a flying toss? Feminists, you can suck it because the women are doing this by choice, a lot of the feminists women are usually ugly and are intimidated by the hawtness of the more...beautiful women.

[jankren]

Ugly girls.

[Exarch]

Ugly girls.

noone's looking at their faces