Volleyball: Cover-up ordered

By PAUL NEWMAN in Athens

It was the sponsorship deal made in heaven. Two Norwegian players, Kathrine Maaseide and Susanne Glesnes, walked on to the court in the Games' sexiest competition wearing contraceptive patches on their shoulders provided by a medical company.

Not for long, however, as an official promptly told the players they were breaching Olympic regulations forbidding product placement.

The Norwegians probably had good reason to think that anything goes in beach volleyball. The players' skimpy outfits leave little to the imagination, dancers gyrate on the court between games and a DJ sends high-energy music pounding across the stadium at every opportunity.

Eight years after it joined the Olympics, beach volleyball has become an established part of the scene. The likes of fencing and shooting may have a longer history in the Games, but this is what today's spectators want to see.

The beach volleyball stands, unlike those at plenty of other Olympic events, have been packed.

Ticket prices for some matches at the 10,000-capacity venue were between $US60-$US90, more than three times as expensive as tickets for other "minority" sports.

While there is a men's beach volleyball tournament, it is inevitably the women who draw the attention.

Perhaps it is something to do with the fact that the vast majority of photographers and TV cameramen, not to mention reporters, are men.

The temptation for the cameramen to zoom in on a player's bottom to show her hand signal to her partner is clearly irresistible.

While the prospect of watching fit, bronzed women perform in tight-fitting beachwear is no doubt an attraction for some, the sport itself is undeniably thrilling to watch.

With only four players on the court, throwing themselves about, beach volleyball has a raw simplicity that its indoor cousin lacks.

As if the beach volleyball scene was not sexy enough, the organisers have brought in an exotic women's dance team to provide additional entertainment. The dancers jump on to the court between games and gyrate to the music.

Not all the players approve of the dancers.

Australian Nicole Sanderson said: "Personally, I feel it's disrespectful to the female players.

"I'm sure the male spectators love it, but I find it a little bit offensive."

- INDEPENDENT