Monday, August 23, 2004
Beach Volleyball Bikinis
The Olympics have started! And this year, one of the most popular sports is women's beach volleyball. This is because women wear skimpy bikinis when playing the game. I can see their point. Volleyball requires quite a bit of motion, and one gets sweaty with it. So the less clothing, the better. Why just a bikini, then? Maybe it is because of the sand, or maybe simply because the beach is nearby, and one puts on a swimsuit to go to the beach anyway. Then to top it off, there are cheerleaders for this event. And they are also women! One would think they would be men. And they are just as scantily clad. The players think it is "offensive" in the words of one.
Actually, in many sports, the less clothing, the better. Swimming is the primary example, but running is that way, too. You sweat when running, so when you wear clothes, they get dirty, and they get wet and feel grungy on you. That is why many male runners, including myself, run shirtless during the summer. Besides, no shirt is cooler than a shirt. Unfortunately the trend seems to be to these baggy shorts, whereas brief shorts would work a lot better. Other sports where the less clothing the better include diving, gymnastics, basketball, and track and field.
The women have the right idea on the track, field, and running. They now wear brief clothing, similar to the beach volleyball players. The men don't have the right idea. Male competition runners and beach volleyball players wear these baggy shorts, and the runners wear a shirt as well. Instead, they ogle the women when they dress brief. Some women complain about that.
The best way to do something about that is for female beach volleyball players to put on tops and shorts when they play and say they are going to play like that until the men wear skimpy bathing suits too when they play. Furthermore, the women runners could go back to the old-fashioned top and shorts with no bare midriffs until they allow men to run shirtless in running events, and the men actually do so. This would not only level the field, it would also promote more functional clothing wear at athletic events.
Actually, in many sports, the less clothing, the better. Swimming is the primary example, but running is that way, too. You sweat when running, so when you wear clothes, they get dirty, and they get wet and feel grungy on you. That is why many male runners, including myself, run shirtless during the summer. Besides, no shirt is cooler than a shirt. Unfortunately the trend seems to be to these baggy shorts, whereas brief shorts would work a lot better. Other sports where the less clothing the better include diving, gymnastics, basketball, and track and field.
The women have the right idea on the track, field, and running. They now wear brief clothing, similar to the beach volleyball players. The men don't have the right idea. Male competition runners and beach volleyball players wear these baggy shorts, and the runners wear a shirt as well. Instead, they ogle the women when they dress brief. Some women complain about that.
The best way to do something about that is for female beach volleyball players to put on tops and shorts when they play and say they are going to play like that until the men wear skimpy bathing suits too when they play. Furthermore, the women runners could go back to the old-fashioned top and shorts with no bare midriffs until they allow men to run shirtless in running events, and the men actually do so. This would not only level the field, it would also promote more functional clothing wear at athletic events.
