Olympic beach volleyball starts in drenching rain under Eiffel Tower
Excited spectators splashed through puddles Saturday to reach the most spectacular venue of the Paris 2024 Olympics as the first beach volleyball matches began in the shadow of a just-visible Eiffel Tower.
After a rain-soaked opening ceremony the previous day, the first day of sporting action was equally wet and crowds at the purpose-built stadium huddled under umbrellas, hats and raincoats.
The waterlogged park was supposed to be the standout venue of the Paris Games but the rain lashed down as men's teams from the United States and Cuba took to the sand for the opening match.
The skateboarding competition was postponed earlier Saturday but beach volleyball is rarely called off for rain, only for storms.
Athletes warmed up on practice courts in a mixture of tracksuits, shorts and the signature bikinis that the sport has become known for.
Outside the stadium, wooden walkways swayed under muddy puddles and fans wearing their national flags covered up under an array of ponchos, berets and Paris 2024 baseball caps.
"It's horrible, but it's Paris," said Thibauld Fournes ruefully, visiting from northern France. "I don't think it will stop me having a good time."
Beach volleyball has grown to become one of the most popular events at the Olympics since its inclusion for the first time in 1996, and stadium stands were largely packed.
"I don't think the weather will ruin it at all -- it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Sonya Chiu, 44, from New York. "Even though it's raining, pouring, everyone is in good spirits."
- Ponchos and sun hats -
With temperatures set to soar in the next few days, many had clothes and accessories for all possible weather conditions.
"We bought suncream and sun hats -- haven't used them at all. But we spent five euros each on ponchos yesterday and they were great," said Sydney Swanson, 31, from Texas.
"Best five euros I've ever spent," agreed her husband, Axel.
Cuba's Noslen Diaz Amaro and Jorge Luis Alayo Moliner easily won the first match against US pair Miles Partain and Andrew Benesh.
The United States are the current Olympic women's champions but have not won men's gold since Beijing in 2008.
Next on the sand were the top-ranked Swedish pairing of David Ahman and Jonatan Hellvig, both aged 22, who eased to victory against Australians Mark Nicolaidis and Izac Carracher.
The pair are use an aggressive playing style known as the "Swedish jump-set", which adds an element of unpredictability to attacking play.
The tactic helped them win the day's second match in straight sets in less than 40 minutes.
The women's competition starts later Saturday with what promises to be a well-matched contest between Asian champions China's Xue Chen and Xia Xinyi and Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy of Australia.
Twenty-four teams start in both the men's and women's events, before being whittled down to 16 for the knockout stages, with the finals taking place on August 9 and 10.
N.Macleod--EWJ
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