Beach volleyball in London: in pictures

Sunshine and sand in the centre of London. That can't be right, can it? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The beach volleyball event at Horse Guards Parade is one of a number of test events being held across the capital with one year remaining until the start of the Olympics. But few other events have a backdrop as spectacular as this Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Speaking of backdrops, the building directly behind the floodlight is the Cabinet Office. The Cobra meeting was held inside there today with politicians and police chiefs deciding how to tackle the rioting that's sweeping the country Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

A statue overlooking the Mall towers in the distance Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Plenty of spectators have been drawn to the event. Here Denise Johns of GB makes a dive in her match with partner Lucy Boulton against the Canadian pair of Jamie Lynn Broder and Ashley Voth. The Britons eventually won Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Elizabeth Maloney of Canada makes a block as she and Heather Bansley take on the Malaysian pair of Beh Shun Thing and Luk Teck Hua Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

Bansley commiserates her opponents after winning the match Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The courts are raked to keep the sand level Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

In case there wasn't enough lycra on display already, a troupe of dancing girls come out to perform Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian

The Canadian Kacie Mactavish spikes the ball during her match on court one. This must surely have been the most bizarre location in which she has ever played Photograph: Tom Jenkins for The Guardian