‘Ridiculous’: Controversy erupts over Olympic beach volleyball uniforms

Unexpected scenes on TV screens during the Olympic beach volleyball have ignited a debate on social media some are calling “gross”.

The Olympics has been divided by the uniforms. Photo: Getty.

Controversy is swirling at the Olympics with the sight of athletes in Paris sparking conversations around the world.

Athletes have been wearing athletic-wear long pants across the first two days of competition at the scenic beach volleyball venue in front of the Eiffel Tower.

The move away from the traditional, controversial bikini uniforms has caught some casual Olympics viewers by surprise and public criticism of the attire has sparked a fierce backlash.

The issue first emerged when pairs, including the women’s teams from Canada and the United States, sported leggings when the event began in the underwhelming scenes of wet, windy and overcast weather.

The temporary stadium in front of the Eiffel Tower was supposed to begin with a bang in a party-like atmosphere, but instead competitors and spectators were forced to adjust to the depressing weather. Heavy rain impacted the Opening Ceremony and some viewers are convinced it did the same with the beach volleyball.

The uniforms were not what viewers expected on Day 1. Photo by Luis TATO / AFP.

It didn’t stop the crowd’s morale. Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP.

Some viewers took to Twitter to confess their disappointment that several teams switched to the long pants — and those controversial comments were swiftly condemned by viewers on the other side of the divisive topic.

One tweet with 7.4 million views said: “I waited 4 years for f***ing PANTS?!!?!??!??! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH”.

Another post with 12 million views said: “Every 4 years, I become a women’s beach volleyball enthusiast.

“I also generally support tight yoga pants in public. However, yoga pants, no matter how tight they are, have NO place in women’s beach volleyball. For us traditionalist fans, this is heresy.”

Other Twitter users responded very differently.

Mariafe Artacho del Solar needed another layer. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.

Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Taliqua Clancy celebrate a point in Paris. Photo by Luis TATO / AFP.

“Congratulations to the female athletes who fought so hard to be able to wear pants while they play beach volleyball,” one Twitter user responded.

“And to all the creepers who are disappointed…gross. Go away. They didn’t want you watching anyway.”

Another fan posted: “Unpopular opinion: I love the USA women’s beach volleyball long pants uniforms!!! Finally! The thong bikini’s were ridiculous”.

The IOC had previously mandated all competitors must wear the bikini uniforms and rules previously demanded athletes’ bikini bottoms could not be more than 7cm on the sides.

The Egyptian team is also competing with modest hijab uniforms.

Canada's Sophie Bukovec and Heather Bansley. Photo by Luis TATO / AFP.

Egypt's Doaa Elghobashy and Marwa Abdelhady. Photo by Luis TATO / AFP.

The teams from the United States and Canada returned to competition the following day in stifling 30C conditions wearing the traditional bikini uniforms.

Australian pair Mariafe del Solar and Taliqua Clancy have also sported bikini uniforms.

Del Solar competed with a figure-hugging top underneath her green and gold uniform on the opening day, but switched to her bikini top when the mercury sky-rocketed.

The difference between the men’s and women’s uniforms has always been a point of contention in beach volleyball and it is not the only sport that is facing the issue at the Paris Olympics.

Dr Paul Bowell, from Swinburne’s Sport Innovation Research Group, says the uniforms have a direct link to the performance of the athletes in Paris.

The United States’ women’s athletics uniforms and New Zealand’s gymnastic’s uniforms have also raised eyebrows recently.

Aussie’s Paul Burnett and Chris McHugh looked a bit different. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

“Women are often made to wear uniforms that make them feel uncomfortable,” the university researcher said.

“These uniforms are revealing and can over-sexualise the athlete’s body.

“These discussions highlight the importance of re-evaluating uniform standards to prioritise athlete comfort and agency.

“Uniform choices can influence athletes’ confidence, comfort, and ultimately, their athletic achievements.

“Athletes’ wellbeing is at the centre of many sports managers’ minds – a free children’s nursery and sanitation products will be offered at the Paris Olympic Village, for example. This concern for athletes’ mental care needs to extend to how comfortable they feel with what they have to wear”.

The skateboarding competition and breakdancing events are also taking place at the same venue park.

Athletes warmed up on practice courts in a mixture of tracksuits, shorts and the signature bikinis that the sport has become known for.

Clancy and del Solar won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Games and have a real chance to challenge for the gold medal in Paris.