Beach volleyball left in the dark

Pottharst won gold in Sydney Photos: Learn the beach basics

Football, cricket, baseball and tennis - all outdoor sports played both in the sun and and under the stars.

Now Olympic beach volleyball has joined the brigade, much to the bemusement of Australia's sun-kissed players.

At the forthcoming Games in Athens, some of the beach volleyball matches are due to tip off as late as 2300 local time, under the moonlight and floodlights of the 10,000 capacity centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone.

"The most challenging thing for us will be playing at night under lights," said Australian star Kerri Pottharst, who won gold in the women's event at Sydney.

Her Sydney Games playing partner, Natalie Cook, said the new format was all Greek to her.

"The Greeks like to play at night, it's going to be more challenging," said Cook.

"It's just a later culture here, people eat later they go out later and we'll have to adjust to that."

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