Beach volleyball: Too sexualized to be a respectable sport?

Beach volleyball is a proven crowd-pleasing sport. The seaside setting, a live DJ and bikini-clad cheerleaders are all part of the action. But some athletes complain the atmosphere is too distracting for them to concentrate on the match. Our reporter went to a beach volleyball game to find out more.
"Having been to quite a few events, I would say this is probably one of the most entertaining and interactive sports I've seen. People come here to catch some volleyball action, to enjoy the performance of the cheerleaders and to have an atmosphere where they can truly relax."
The atmosphere is incredible. And part of it comes from bikini-clad cheer-leaders, who perform before a game starts and occasionally during timeouts.
While the audience is being entertained, some athletes are not quite prepared for showcase.
Recently, after falling to a Japanese duo in the Asian Game's beach volleyball group match, a Yemen athlete complained that the cheerleaders were too distracting. They had an effect on how we play, said the Yemeni player Adeeb Mahfoudh, I think they had something to do with our loss.
Cheerleader, Beach Volleyball, 2010 Asian Games, said, "Why we are performing is because we want to make people feel relaxed, we want the competitors to feel relaxed. So I don't think it's our fault. It's in fact our responsibility to perform here. What we can do is to try our best."
While the Yemeni athlete's comment could simply be a light-hearted joke, the debate over the event has been happening ever since it made its international debut at the Athens Olympics.
Some think it is too sexualized to be considered a respectable sport. They point out that beach volleyball is one of the few sports where athletes are mandated to wear a uniform which does not exceed a certain size, encouraging a less-is-best dress code. They also argue that it is simply a way to market the game for viewership and sponsors.
But others believe the uniforms are practical for the sport, because long and loose clothing would simply affect players' flexibility and tournaments often take place during the intense heat of summer.
Liao Xiaoming, Director of Beach Volleyball Center, said, "This sport is really unique in that it combines athletic competition, entertainment, and interactivity. First of all, the athletes' techniques and athletic level is great. Secondly, by wearing bikini or short clothes, athletes look very relaxed and it can make spectators relaxed too. Also, spectators can interact between themselves and also with athletes. In this sport, volleyball action, sunshine, beach and spectators, together become an integral whole."
Spectator, said, "I think it's very normal to dress revealing clothes because basketball babes also dress like this. They are really professional......"
Many of the cheerleaders at the Asian Games also performed at the Beijing Olympics. They said they didn't really care about the discussions on the way they or the athletes dress, saying they are dancing for the love of it, and as Chinese, they are happy to perform at a major sporting event held in their own country.
Cheerleader, Beach Volleyball, 2010 Asian Games, said, "I feel really proud of the Asian Games and proud of me and that my team can perform here. We have practiced a long time. The hard part was we were used to dancing on the floor and now we had to do it in sands."
No matter how much conservative groups may frown upon the dress code, beach volleyball is fast becoming one of the most popular outdoor event for people during a major sports meet. People say the beach, the sunshine, and the atmosphere together give them a great get-away from their hectic daily routines.