Explainer: Why Olympic beach volleyball players wear bikinis

Germany's Margareta Kozuch tries to save the ball during their women's preliminary beach volleyball pool F match against Japan at Shiokaze Park. (Photo by Angela Weis/AFP)

No, members of women’s teams are not required to wear bikinis when they play beach volleyball at the Olympics.

Yes, TV cameras do tend to linger on their glutes when they hold their hands behind their backs to pass signals to each other. And no, that’s not a problem for the players who believe that those who see the sport will stay.