Cool Olympic night forces bikini cover-up

Kerri Walsh of the United States blocks the shot of Australia’s Natalie Cook during a beach volleyball match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 28, 2012, in London. AP/Dave Martin

LONDON — When temperatures dropped for the first Olympic beach volleyball night session, Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor said bye-bye to their bikinis.

The two-time defending gold medalists from the United States wore long-sleeved shirts on top of bikini bottoms on Saturday, when the temperature at the start of their 11 p.m. match was 63 degrees (17 Celsius). Their opponents, Australians Natalie Cook and Tasmin Hinchley, wore long pants and short-sleeved shirts underneath their bikini tops.

Two-piece swimsuits have long been the standard attire in the sport. Players say the skimpy clothes allow less room for sand to get underneath and chafe. But international rules have long allowed women to wear warmer clothes when the temperature drops.

The FIVB changed an unrelated rule recently to also allow shorts and T-shirts for women whose cultural beliefs require them to cover up.