The pictures which show you don't need to fly to exotic climes to watch a stunning volleyball game as the women's teams electrify Horse Guards Parade
By HELEN COLLIS
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These stunning aerial pictures show how the London 2012 beach volleyball stadium has been remarkably squeezed into the heart of the city.
Thousands of cheering spectators can be heard from surrounding Whitehall and nearby Trafalgar Square, just out of view in this picture.
But for those lucky enough to secure tickets for the popular event, the scenes inside are far more reminiscent of those seen on the beaches of Brazil or California.
Remarkable: Aerial scenes of the Olympic beach volleyball stadium squeezed into the heart of London, on the Horse Guards' Parade, surrounded by government Whitehall buildings and just a stone's throw from the Houses of Parliament and iconic Big Ben
Beach volleyball has proven to be one of the most popular events at the Games
Inside the stadium, the sun, sand and bikinis, plus beach balls and the smell of sun-tan lotion transport the lucky crowds to somewhere far more exotic.
Forgetting they are plunged in the centre of the thronging, bustling, noisy capital, the crowds have been entertained with exotic dancers in bikinis.
And the atmosphere during matches has been electrifying, with closely matched battles seeing spectators jumping up from their seats cheering.
It's no wonder the sport has proven so popular.
Dancers perform on day seven of the London 2012 beach volleyball Olympic Games
Cheerleaders perform during the women beach volleyball round of 16 match between Germany's Laura Ludwig and Sara Goller against compatriots Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler
Dancers jumped into the crowds which certainly went down well for some
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The sandy, and at times, sunny, scenes today were more reminiscent of a beach in Brazil as opposed to London's city
Great Britain's Zara Dampney, right, hugs team mate Shauna Mullin during their Women's Beach Volleyball Pool F match against Canada on Sunday
Great Britain's Shauna Mullin, left, and Zara Dampney embrace after they beat Canada during a beach volleyball match on Sunday
But the pair failed to reach the last 16 after losing to Austria in the lucky loser match
Zhang of China served under almost a cloudless sky during her preliminary match with Chen Xue of China against Simone Kuhn and Nadine Zumkehr of Switzerland on Monday
Brazil's Talita Rocha gestures to teammate Maria Antonelli before serving to Austria's Becchara Palmer and Louise Bawden during their match on Thursday
Brazil's Talita Rocha, right, and Maria Antonelli celebrate beating Austria on Thursday
Anna Vozakova, right, and Anastasia Vasina, of Russia celebrate after beating Switzerland
Sara Goller of Germany blocks Katrin Holtwick of Germany during the women's beach volleyball today
Argentina's Ana Gallay, right, and Maria Virginia Zonta both go for the ball during a match against the US team on the second day of the Games
On the left, Brazil's Maria Antonelli, right, and Talita Rocha hug after making a shot during a beach volleyball match against Australia's Becchara Palmer and Louise Bawden on Thursday, while right, Liliana Fernandez of Spain signals her partner
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