GOLDEN GIRL NAT COOK LEADS OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALLERS TO ST KILDA

 January 31, 2012: The summer heats up this weekend as St Kilda prepares to host round four of the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series (NBVS).

Ending a four-year absence of a professional competition in Australia, this will be the biggest event in Beach Volleyball to hit St Kilda Beach, hosting rounds 4 and 5 of the eight-round Renault NBVS.
 
Entry to event is free of charge.
 
Expected to draw many of the sport’s best athletes from Australia and overseas, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) sanctioned Series is a welcome boost for players preparing for the London Olympics later this year.
 
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games gold medallist Natalie Cook has also confirmed her participation at St Kilda, as has Australian women’s team ranked in world’s top 16 Becchara Palmer and Lousie Bawden and top women’s Spanish team ranked 11th in the world.
 
Cook, having recently won round three with dual Olympian team mate Tamsin Hinchley, said the Renault NBVS is an ideal competition to launch her bid to compete in an unprecedented fifth Olympic Games.

“It is an exciting time for Beach Volleyball in Australia, to be back on the Aussie beaches around the country is important not only to the athletes as we prepare for London 2012, but for the Aussie sports culture,” said Cook.
 
“The sport continues to grow with lots of young kids wanting to play our sport, and the Renault NBVS will provide role models and the pathway for them to do so.”
 
St Kilda will host two rounds of the 2011/12 series, the fourth round commencing on Saturday February 3 and the fifth round returning on February 17.

The centre court and surrounding precinct will be a fusion of sport and entertainment only matched on the world beach volleyball tour, and will include a barefoot opening ceremony, live bands, DJ’s, celebrity matches and evening music performances accompanied by interactive activation zones and chill out areas.
 
Major sponsor Renault will also give away a Renault Mégane Coupé-Cabriolet convertible valued at over $50,000 to one lucky spectator who guesses the correct number of beach volleyballs in the vehicle on display at the events.
 
In addition to Renault, fellow series sponsor Garnier Australia will provide sampling throughout the event, and spectator engagement through their unique and popular activation zones.
 
More information about the Renault National Beach Volleyball Series can be found at www.beachvolleyballseries.com.au.