A summer Olympics without bikinis? What is this, 1992?

Nope, just London 2012, where players might wear long sleeves as they hit the sand.

Beach volleyball joined the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, and is perhaps the most quintessentially summer of the summer events. But in London, players could face chilly conditions.

Weather has sent organizers scrambling for contingency measures as forecasts project more clouds and more rain for what are certain to be the least summer-like Summer Games in memory.

"I've joked in the past about the challenge of putting a roof across the whole country," Games chairman Seb Coe told Reuters, "but this is actually proving quite a challenge for us."

Months-long rains subsided this week with temperatures anticipated to rise as high as 86 degrees by midweek. However, when the Games begin with the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, showers are once again possible, with rains returning for the first full week of events, according to forecasts.

"I spent most of Sunday in the Olympic Stadium watching a goodly chunk of our 15,000-volunteer cast heroically rehearsing in the rain," Coe said.

April through June was Britain's wettest three-month period on the books, according to the Met Office, the United Kingdom's national weather service. Officials have said a sustained period of warm, dry weather is unlikely.

Sydney this is not.

Organizers have built extra days into the schedules for rowing and equestrian sports, the 100-meter record is surely not at risk of being broken in poor weather and, yes, beach volleyball could very well be played in long sleeves.

Australian competitor Tamsin Hinchley said even volleyball players have their limits, and losing the skimpy uniforms — which Hinchley acknowledged is part of the draw — may be necessary.

Obviously we're that sport," Hinchley told The Associated Press. "We're the sport that wears the bikinis and we're the sport that's physically out there. But we're jumping and running and sliding on the sand. We'll be using [cold weather gear] to benefit us physically."

Many beach volleyball matches are scheduled to go late into the evening, when temperatures will dip.

On the whole, however, organizers are confident the weather will have limited impact on the success of the Games.

"The Thames would have to rise a huge amount before the rowing is under the threat," Sports Minister Hugh Robertson told The Guardian newspaper. "The mountain biking is up a mountain and if it's a bit muddy it doesn't matter; the canoeing is an artificial venue; the football pitches shouldn't be a problem."

Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100 meters at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and then broke it with a 9.58-second dash at the 2009 World Championships. In soggy conditions, sprinters may have to aim a bit lower.

American Tyson Gay won the London Grand Prix on July 13 as a tuneup, running the race in 10.03 seconds into a headwind.

"I feel I know how to mentally prepare for this type of weather," Gay said, "and this was the best place to prepare for the Games."

boram@sltrib.comTwitter: @oramb —

Here comesthe sun?

• The rainiest three-month period in recorded British history ended in June, but the weather hasn't improved much since.

• This week has brought sunshine in London, but rains are expected to return for the first full week of competition.

• Poor weather could affect uniforms, locations, schedules and race results.