OLYMPIC HISTORY

Successfully introduced in Atlanta 1996, beach volleyball varies in a number of ways from the traditional indoor game. For a start, there are just two players on each team instead of six, while points are scored only when the serving team wins a rally. Games are played to the best of three sets. Each set is played to 15 points, though if the margin of victory is less than two points, the set proceeds to 17 points, at which stage it is possible to win 17-16.

Medal-winning games consist of the best of three sets to 12 points, though a point is scored for every rally in the third set, regardless of who is serving. The final set goes on beyond 12 points until one player is two points clear. With the elements a factor, teams swap sides of the court after every five points throughout the game.

In Atlanta, the inaugural top honours went to Karch Kiraly, a double Olympic champion of indoor volleyball, and partner Kent Steffes, of the United States, and Jacqueline Silva and Sandra Pires, of Brazil. Runners-up in both events were from the same nations as the winners, the finals all American and all-Brazilian affairs.

Brazil, home of Copacabana and other stretches of exotic coastline where beach volleyball is a culture in itself, are favourites for the titles in Sydney, among both men and women. The host nation, however, is a big threat in the women's event, as is the US, while the men from Argentina and Switzerland are favoured to take medals.