Glamour is not part of English sporting culture. Commitment, perseverance and tradition are the national sporting foundations, with space too for professionalism, individualism and a mild distrust of change. But no one would accuse London’s traditional venues, from The Oval to the Boleyn Ground, of flirting, flaunting or anything like that.
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So when beach volleyball comes to town, as it did recently with the first preliminary matches at Horse Guards Parade, it would be no surprise if it were met with a British response: some suspicion, a sneer, and of course vocal prurience concerning beach volleyball’s famous uniforms.