Ancient Greek Olympic sportsmen competed in the buff. Yes. Fully nude.  It was a tribute to the gods, and it was for the masses to admire the male physique.

We evolved. Then we clothed ourselves. We evolved further. Then we streaked, and then we got arrested.

(photo: Nude students play rugby in Dunedin, New Zealand. Photo: FRANCK FIFE)

But nudies are no longer invading our playing fields; they are taking them over and competing nude. So is society finally ready for the naked high five? For years, we’ve been bridging the gap, with women’s beach volleyball just one string pull away.

Tens of thousands attend packed arenas around America’s South cheer on shaved and tanned men as they rumble and fake wrestle one another. And then there is the World Bikini Football League.

But all of those competitions are G-rated compared to the folks around the globe taking it further:

Last year a New Zealand rugby team the ‘Nude Blacks’ celebrated National Nude Day in a bout with the visiting and very naked Welsh Leeks for the nude rugby World Cup. And one man named Keith Whelan has just left WA attempting to become the first Irish man to row solo across the Indian Ocean … and says he’s doing it naked.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/fitness