(ATR) TheInternational Volleyball Federation stepped up its ambition to grow beach volleyball globally with the announcement of a new partnership Thursday.
The FIVB has joined forces with the Beach Major Company - a joint venture between Hannes Jagerhofer (Acts) and Red Bull.
The federation said Red Bull would bring "its full marketing, event management and media competence" to three Major Series events and the Swatch Beach Volleyball Season Final as part of the FIVB World Tour.
There are plans to increase the number of Major Series events.
Today’s announcement also signalled the return of Swatch to beach volleyball as the title sponsor for the Major Series.
FIVB president Ary S. Graça unveiled the deal at the Swatch LAB in Zurich.
"This new partnership is the next step in the FIVB’s mission to ensure that volleyball is the world’s leading family sport entertainment through engagement, innovation and universality," he said in a statement.
"Like the FIVB and volleyball, Red Bull is a dynamic, global brand and I look forward to working together to ensure that the FIVB’s beach volleyball events are a memorable spectacle for fans around the world."
The 2015 FIVB World Tour marks the start of the second qualification process - alongside the Continental Cup - for beach volleyball athletes ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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