Friday, August 22, 2008

Attire and the Olympics

Having watched the Olympics for many years, I never really think about attire, but apparently it is important. There's already been the debate with swimming and the use of the new streamlined LAZR speedos. In synchronized swimming, the female Spanish duo's swimsuits were banned from competition. The team of Fuentes and Mengual wanted to wear embedded waterproof lights in their swimsuit. FNIA,the governing body disallowed it, saying it was an "accessory." Sequins are often on swimsuits, but these lights which were sewn in were not allowed. Still, the women came in second place.

Then, of all sports, in table tennis, there is a growing push for women to change their attire. Apparently, the governing body of table tennis, ITTF, has been upset by poor ratings. Therefore, it feels that female players need to have sexier outfits. Well, they call it outfits with more "curves." They feel that this might attract more sports enthusiasts and give popularity to the sport.

Hmmm, maybe this is why beach volleyball got so much primetime air this year?

Whatever happened to the fact that the Olympics is about athletic prowess and NOT what you're wearing? I remember back in I think it was 1996 Olympics where the Chinese gymnasts got deducted a tenth of a point, because their leotards were too high cut, it was something incredibly silly like that.

I just find it amazing how much controversy the Olympics brings, excluding the fact that it was in China. Well, at least we can wait another two more years until the Winter Olympics. I'm sure they'll be another whole set of questions brought on for debate.

2 comments:

Cammy said...

I agree, I thought the beach volleyball "uniforms" were a probably more for show than utility. I would think that sand plus tight skimpy bathing suits would create serious friction issues.

Tiptoe said...

Cammy, yeah, I agree. Plus, we had to see them almost every single night it seemed. I was just waiting for a wedgie to happen!

I think there is a difference between "functional" wear and attire only to raise ratings.