Female athletes should not be made to play in “little more than skimpy knickers” which “sexualises” them and “distracts” from the sport they are playing. 

That’s according to one Lunchtime Live listener who has come to the conclusion that male and female athletes are not being treated at the Olympics.

“It’s just the disparity between the dress worn by the men and the women,” Clare said.

“The men are well covered up - they have a vest on them, they have shorts going down to their knees.

“Whereas the women, they have the option of a bra-like top and really what they wear below, it’s little more than skimpy knickers.”

Clare said it is mainly a problem in track and field events and believes such “skimpy” outfits detract from the achievements that athletes have worked “so hard for”.

“I think when they dress like this, it takes the focus away from their huge achievements and huge endeavours and all of that,” she said.

“It kind of sexualises or distracts away from that and makes viewers more conscious of the body kind of element.”

Gradual change

Clare also noted that dress codes have evolved over time.

While the Ancient Greeks once competed in the Olympics “completely naked”, now athletes wear clothes and Clare hopes the female dress code can evolve further.

“I think back when the women were first allowed at the Olympics, they were very much covered up,” she said.

“But now, it has got to be very skimpy and very revealing.”

Clare also said she believes that the female athletes’ outfits mean some people come to volleyball matches even though they have no interest in the sport.

“If you look at the audience, there’s an inordinate amount of single men there looking,” she said.

“It’s kind of almost creepy.

“Are they there for the sport or are they there for other reasons?”

This year's Olympics are the first in history with an equal number of male and female competitors.

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Main image: Women playing volleyball at the Olympics. Picture by: Michael Kappeler/dpa/Alamy Live News