ABC of beach volleyball dominate again in Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters) - The Olympics have shown it will be tough to get past the "ABC" of beach volleyball -- America, Brazil and China -- despite its growing popularity.

Beijing welcomed dozens of debutants to the Olympic sands with seven countries fronting their first teams and crowds of Chinese spectators being initiated into the beach party atmosphere of stadium singing and scantily clad dancing girls.

In the end, all that was a sideshow leading to the final acts most people expected before the Games.

The women's field was bulldozered again by the indomitable Americans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh who became the first team to defend an Olympic beach title without dropping a set.

The men's draw had more drama, with U.S. world champions Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser losing their first match against newcomer Latvia but later pulling it together enough to get gold.

"It's sweet to have the clean sweep of golds and bring them home," said Rogers, who comes from beach volleyball's birthplace of Santa Barbara, California.

For the first time since the sport joined the Olympics in 1996, an injury-hampered Brazil fell off the women's podium as China's determined training program paid a two-medal dividend.

The men made it up for beach-blessed Brazil, taking silver and bronze, although most of the athletes are in their mid-30s so changes are needed to maintain their dominance.

"Other countries have a new generation, a new style, so we need to work harder to stay at the top. Our 20-somethings have to get out on the international tour and get more experience," said bronze medalist Emanuel, 35.

Athletes also hope that beach volleyball's moment in the Olympic sun -- and torrential rain in several matches -- will be enough of a catalyst to keep the sport growing until 2010.

"Hopefully people will have seen the sport and loved the atmosphere and now get out there themselves," Dalhausser said.