Mercedes Smart Car Continue Sponsorship of Volleyball Champs.

Mercedes’ compact car brand smart has extended its commitment to beach volleyball by securing the presenting partner rights for the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Championships 2011 in Rome, having been a successful supporter for 10 years. 

Jizhong Wei, FIVB president, stated: “We’re really pleased to have won the Daimler Group as a cooperation partner. smart’s sponsorship of the event in the Italian capital underlines the importance of beach volleyball in the marketing activities of the lifestyle car brand.

“In Rome we’ll experience many innovative elements in the promotion and implementation of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Championships 2011 powered by smart. The focus will continue to be on the athletes and we will underline this approach with an innovative campaign, the likes of which volleyball and beach volleyball have never seen before.”

The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships sees the world’s best 96 women’s and men’s teams contest for the title of World Champion, with prize money totalling $1m and for valuable points available to qualify for participation in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 

From 13 to 19 June, the beach volleyball matches will take place at Foro Italico in Rome, with matches to be broadcast on TV in more than 150 countries.