Great Britain’s Beach Volleyball Team Gets First Major Sponsor

With London 2012 on the horizon, Great Britain’s Olympic beach volleyball squad and leading global health benefits company Aetna announced today their deal for Aetna to become the squad’s first major commercial sponsor.

The Olympic beach volleyball tournament will occur in July and will be staged at the Horse Guards Parade. Tickets for this event are already the most oversubscribed of the entire Games. The relationship between Aetna and the UK Volleyball team covers 2012 whilst also bringing the athletes much needed financing to aid their progress in the Olympic Games.

The news comes as Team GB continue their preparations for the Games and their bid to secure extra team spots in both the men’s and women’s competitions, in addition to two automatic spots as the host to the women’s and men’s competition. Team GB has also represented at the Games on only one previous occasion, at Atlanta in 1996, when the women’s team participated.

Under the terms of the sponsorship, Team GB players’ kits will carry the Aetna logo as they face a hectic travel, training and qualifying tournament schedule in the lead up to the Games. The sponsorship was brokered by sports specialist Beach Volleyball UK Ltd.

David Healy, General Manager of Europe, Aetna International, said: “We’re proud to offer our support to Team GB as they seek to use London 2012 as a launchpad to grow interest and participation in beach volleyball.

“As an organisation, we are committed to empowering people to live healthier lives through the provision of both insurance and health management services. This partnership is the perfect fit for us, given the fact that volleyball is a sport that can be played by almost anyone, yet it also demands its competing athletes maintain the highest levels of health, nutrition and fitness.”

Richard Callicott, President of the British Volleyball Federation, commented: “This significant sponsorship with Aetna is wonderfully welcome as an opportunity to intensify our preparations and continuing efforts to both qualify and perform at the London 2012 Games.

It gives us particular pleasure to work with a leading company in the global health care industry, given the emphasis of our sport on activity, strength, fitness and high-quality athleticism, in addition to well-being and fun.”

GB Head Beach Coach, Morph Bowes, also added that the sponsorship will allow the Squad to focus on its efforts on the FIVB Swatch World Beach Tour and other Olympic qualifying events in a bid to qualify both women’s teams for the Horse Guards Parade event, and to further support the best efforts of a men’s team in their bid to represent their country.

by Ismail Uddin