- Viewers are expressing outrage over changes to beach volleyball in Paris
- Competitions are taking place in a stadium located near the Eiffel Tower
Upset Olympics fans have been criticized for sexist remarks after complaining online about the decision for beach volleyball players to swap bikini bottoms for leggings in Paris.
Previously, female beach volleyball athletes were mandated to wear bikini bottoms, with the International Olympic Committee specifying that these could not exceed 7cm on the sides.
However, for the Paris Olympics, the rules have been relaxed, allowing competitors to wear more conservative leggings, which sparked considerable backlash on social media.
Many viewers were identified as ‘sexist’ for expressing their dissatisfaction about the change, seemingly only upset because it limited their ability to lech at the athletes.
‘I’ve had to watch men dressed as women at the opening ceremony, and now women in leggings for beach volleyball. This is the worst Olympics ever,’ lamented one viewer.
‘This adds to the reasons I’m not watching the Olympics anymore,’ exclaimed another.
‘Leggings in beach volleyball is an absolute outrage,’ fumed yet another.
There were numerous derogatory and misogynistic comments made that the Mail has chosen not to publish.
The Czech Republic was among the nations choosing to wear leggings as the temperatures remained low during the Paris summer (Marie-Sara Stochlova, pictured)
Frustrated Olympic fans expressed their discontent on social media regarding the changes in beach volleyball, while others dismissed their feedback as sexist complaints
Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar maintained the traditional bikini bottoms but opted for more practical attire to stay warm against the French chill
In response to the backlash, many pointed out the attire change aligns with the need for practicality given the chilly weather.
The night temperatures were in the mid-60s F/15-18°C, and rain was prevalent, as one viewer noted.
‘Look at what everyone else on the court is wearing. It looks freezing. The Australians were playing in jackets,’ another commented.
Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng from the United States opted to stick with the previous uniform despite the unusual low temperatures in Paris
While women have traditionally worn bikinis in beach volleyball at the Olympics, men have been allowed to wear singlets and shorts
Some fans speculated that the attire choices, especially during the match between Australia and China, could reflect cultural influences.
‘The miserable weather may play a role, and it could also be due to the cultural modesty associated with China,’ suggested one viewer.
However, numerous viewers voiced their approval of the new regulations, emphasizing the practicality for the players.
‘Female volleyball players have shared how distracting those tiny bikini bottoms can be, as they constantly risk them coming off when diving into the sand. I’m surprised leggings aren’t the standard,’ remarked a Reddit user.
Some posit the change could be due to athletes being weary of objectification.
‘It’s because they no longer want to showcase their bodies on television,’ commented another.
The Egyptian women’s team opted for full sleeves, long pants, and hijabs, reflecting the cultural norms of their country, where 90% of the population practices Sunni Islam.
Nonetheless, confusion arose as some countries continued to wear traditional bikinis while others switched to leggings.
‘I’m puzzled by the uniform choices for women’s beach volleyball. Some wear leggings, while others stick with the micro bikini,’ expressed one viewer.
