Life, libery and string bikinis… the US women’s beach volleyball team is vowing to stay true to our American values and will compete in their bikinis at the London Games. New Olympic rules allow athletes the option of wearing baggy shorts and a t-shirt. The new uniforms were passed to accomodate concerns from nations with stricter religions.
Misty May-Treanor, the sports all-time winning player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, isn’t fazed by the changes saying: “What you see is what you get — there’s no airbrushing.” While beach volleyball was being critized for being two sexy, in both badminton and boxing, there were pushes to replace female athletes’ shorts with skirts.
Other countries , including Australia, are opting for the uniform changes because of weather concerns. London temperatures expected to drop to the low 50s. ”We need it to keep our muscles warm,” Australian player Tamsin Hinchley said. ”It’s an extremely strenuous sport.”
Team USA has worn bikinis since beach volleyball became an offical Olympic sport in 1996 and will continue to wear theam. Jen Kessy told the NY Post, “If it is cold, we will put clothes on. But we won’t be playing in shorts… We’re not uncomfortable in our bikinis.”
Well here’s one way to boost ratings… an online position is gaining attention for pole dancing to receive Olympic recognition and vying for official Olympic consideration in the 2020 Games.
KT Coates, who organized the petition last year said, “I was so fed up with people looking at me like I was a stripper. People weren’t honoring our athletes, and I thought the highest accolade was to be an Olympic sport. I thought no one would sign up, but suddenly thousands of people did.”
Pole dancing must first be recognized by an International Federation ensuring the sport’s activities follow the Olympic Charter. At the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, the IOC will vote on the 28 Olympic events.
Race conditions at the Detroit Grand Prix drove drivers up the wall. Over the weekend, the Grand Prix was stopped mid race because a piece of the track crumbled causing pot holes and asphalt to fly. The race was postponed for two hours and shortened from 90 laps to 60, while crews repaired the road.
Driver Scott Dixon won the shortened race, which was the first event the Belle Isle track had hosted since 2008. “We have to focus on the positives,” Dixon said. The same could not be said for driver James Hinchcliffe could not. Hinchcliffe crashed into the wall from the bad road conditions.
Hinchcliffe who finished 21st said, “I have never seen anything like it. We had these big pieces of tar just sort of ripping up from Lap 5. The debris was out there. It was tough to drive around it.” The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle was positioned to be Detroit’s homecoming racing event. The race and two hour delay were broadcasted on national television.