Rio 2016 Olympics: Light green shorts of Australian sculling team call attention to male bulges
Double-standard for volleyball wear of male & female athletes
The silver medal of the Australian team in the men’s quadruple sculls have placed in the limelight the light green-and-yellow uniform worn by Karsten Forstering, Alexander Belonogoff, Cameron Girdlestone and James McRae. Observers note the green shorts, made of Lycra, reveal a lot about the size of the team members’ private parts.
News.com.au describes their uniform as leaving “very little to the imagination” when it comes to their male package which are clearly defined, shifting the focus away from their sporting victory. It contrasts Australia rowing team's shorts with the “demure, modesty-maintaining black” shorts of other countries.
Other than the shape-revealing characteristics of the Aussie men’s scull team, the daily criticises the shiny light green shorts of the men as being “one of the most unforgiving colors in the spectrum.” It notes the photo makes it difficult to look at without eliciting naughty thoughts like a teenager.
Photographers treated the photo by either presenting it as it is – bulges or “moose knuckles” galore – or cropping the image by cutting the lower part just a little bit below the waistline. But the daily adds it is not just the scullers but previous Australian male athletes “have a strong history of wearing tight uniforms with pride.”
While commenting on the tight shorts of the rowers, News.com.au also points out the double-standard when it comes to male and female volleyball uniform. It notes that women wear bikinis, while men are dressed in “pajamas.”
The Australian daily asked the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to explain the difference in the uniform for beach volleyball between the two genders.
The federation’s handbook specifies a bikini bottom for the women which must be a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the leg top. For the upper garment, the specification is it must closely fit the body and must have deep cutaway armholes at the back, with sufficient space for the required branding.
Male players are required to wear shirts to provide space for advertisers. The handbook specifies the shorts must not be baggy, with the bottom above the knee cap. The top too must fit closely to the body and be sleeveless.
However, the daily noted alternative options for women players, citing the game between Germany and Egypt. But the Australian women’s volleyball team preferred to wear the bikini, while no male Australian players qualified for Rio.
VIDEO: Meet Australia’s Men’s Four
Source: Rowing Australia
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