Sweeping the blogosphere, there are two divergent camps when it comes to beach volleyball.

There are those who complain that it is demeaning that female athletes play in bikinis while men wear tanktops and long shorts. Then there those who post pictures of players’ posteriors with pathetic locker-room comments that seem to prove the first camp right.

But before we get our bikini bottoms in a twist, let’s head across to the Bird’s Nest where the fashions of track and field are on display. A quick glance around and, hey presto, same story.

The female athletes are in two-pieces, enviably flat stomachs on show, while the men are sporting shorts and a tanktop or one pieces.

It strikes me there are double standards going on here. Is this linguistic discrimination because on the beach two-pieces are called bikinis? Is it because beach volleyball is considered frivolous and so has become a punching bag for anybody with an issue? Is it because people want to see the men topless?

For the record, I have spoken to many players about the dress code, which does offer women the option of a one-piece. Not one woman said she would ditch her bikini (a) because it limits how much itchy sand gets in (b) it is the coolest option for a sport played in hot countries (c) because the players are pretty proud of their physiques and are not ashamed to show them off. To wear anything else would be unnatural.

The men fall into two camps. A couple said they would keep the tanktop because diving onto sand is pretty painful bare-nippled. The others would much rather rip their tops off and cool down a bit on court. Most of them practise bare-chested.

Some members of the volleyball federation are pushing for no more tanktops so if you have an opinion, don’t just write to me…

PHOTO (TOP): Renata Ribeiro (R) and Talita Rocha of Brazil celebrate their victory against Natalie Cook and Tasmin Barnett of Australia during their women’s beach volleyball quarterfinal match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 17, 2008. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

PHOTO (BOTTOM): Alana Boyd of Australia jumps in the women’s pole vault qualifying round of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 16, 2008. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon  

When beach volleyball joined the Olympics in 1996, it was ridiculed in some circles as being an unashamed ploy to boost viewing figures with hotties in bikinis and beach dudes in bermudas.

Roll on 12 years and you could argue beach volleyball is the perfect modern Olympic sport.

With the International Olympic Committee worrying its audience is getting older, the pumped-up atmosphere of beach volleyball with its rock music and cheerleaders is much more interesting to younger watchers than, say, fencing.

Bare flesh might annoy the puritans but it shows just how muscular and fit the athletes are and sells a fun, outdoor lifestyle that is more than welcome in a world of Wii sports.

Beach volleyball is easy on joints, has no history of doping, is simple to learn and all you need is a ball, a net and a beach. And not even really a beach. In landlocked, snowy Switzerland, several schools have built their own courts because they are enamoured of the sport. The bet is paying off — they have sent three teams to Beijing.

Beach volleyball, along with new arrival BMX biking, might not have graced the olive groves of Ancient Olympia but they should be here to stay.

After yesterday, you could even say it has a presidential seal of approval…

PHOTO: Kerry Walsh of the U.S. hits the ball against Japan during their women’s preliminary beach volleyball match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 10, 2008. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

U.S. President George W. Bush did what most people would do on a sticky day and took some time out at the beach on Saturday. The beach volleyball, that is.

The United States are favourite in both the men’s and women’s tournament and the president popped by to wish them good luck. He was not expecting to be made to actually play, nor to be proffered a pert buttock to pat.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are feared as almost superhuman by their opponents so pity the president when Misty took him on to the sand for a spin, showing him how to hold his arms straight out for the ball and “playing some pepper” with him, batting the ball back and forth a few times.

Hard though that was, it was easier than the other dilemma May-Treanor gave him by offering him her bottom to pat in encouragement as the players often do on court. Bush nervously smiled and tapped her on the small of her back with the back of his hand.

Over with the boys, he posed more comfortably despite being missed by Jake Gibb who turned up on the court for practice visibly annoyed at how many people were there.

When another player nodded the president’s way, Gibb took it in typically chilled-out beach-dude style.

“Hey! Who’s that guy?” he grinned, backslapping the president.

Reuters pictures by Carlos Barria