Brit MPs defend buying double the number of tickets for beach volleyball

London, Jan 25 (ANI): The British government has defended the Olympic beach volleyball haul asserting that it is a mere "coincidence" that it bought double the amount of tickets for the skimpy outfit sport than it did for the athletics.

Former Labour sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe asked if it was just an 'oddity' that ministers bought 410 tickets, worth 26,000 pounds, compared with 246 for athletics, the Daily Mail reported.

Jonathan Stephens, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, insisted that MPs most staff wanted weekend tickets and seats under 90 pounds and the event which met those requirements 'turns out to be volleyball'.

"When purchasing tickets for staff to purchase, we thought they were mostly going to be able to go at the weekend or on Fridays," he said.

In spite of being a little-played sport in Britain, beach volleyball was one of the fastest events to sell out - a phenomenon partially attributed to the athletes' attire.

Women players are supposed to wear a top 'closely fitted to the body' and briefs with 'a side width no greater than 3in'. Men can wear vests and shorts. (ANI)