RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Men and women in skimpy swimsuits frolicked in the surf, sprawled out on towels or kicked around a soccer ball at Copacabana Beach. Others cooled themselves under an umbrella at one of the many open-air kiosks serving food, beer and the local sugar cane cocktail, caipirinha.
Inside the Olympic beach volleyball venue, the atmosphere was only slightly less festive.
With a DJ spinning a samba beat and thousands cheering on their hometown teams, the Olympics' sexiest sport returned to its spiritual home on Saturday for an opening session that brought out the best the beach has to offer.