VOLLEYBALL AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES A PERFECT BEACH PARTNERSHIP

January 28: Volleyball Australia (VA) is today excited to announce a major sponsorship with Queensland-based financial services group Lifestyle Asset Management (LAM) for the Australian Beach Volleyball Championships and National Series.

The partnership has already begun in the countdown to the Lifestyle Asset Management Australian Beach Championships in Brisbane in March, with support for the National Beach Series including the Queensland Open at Surfers Paradise this weekend as part of Summer Time 2010.

Sixty-four teams (32 males and 32 females) from around Australia will converge on Sandstorm Beach Club in Brisbane between March 11 and 14, to battle out the Lifestyle Asset Management Australian Beach Championships.

VA is delighted to have Lifestyle Asset Management as a naming rights partner and VA CEO Joan Perry is looking forward to an exciting new partnership.

"Our sport is one that relies on perfect partners and this new partnership is just the boost the sport, our Australian Championships and the National Series has been looking for," said Ms Perry.

"It is as a result of the relationship built up with our four-time Olympian Natalie Cook, that we have been able to secure Lifestyle Asset Management as our major partner for the Australian Beach Championships and Beach Series.

"Nat is synonymous with Beach Volleyball throughout Australia and the world, and will continue to be a major asset to our sport and our brand.

"The sponsorship will provide national television coverage of the Australian championships and also inject $20,000 prize money into the event."

Ms Perry continues: "The relationship is also one which I'm sure can assist us in growing an exciting future for the sport in the countdown to the major events like the 2010 Lifestyle Asset Management Australian Championships and ultimately boost our path to the 2012 Olympics in London.

"We at VA, look forward to working with Lifestyle Asset Management and its team to secure a winning partnership both on and off the court."

Lifestyle Asset Management is a diversified financial services group operating throughout Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom and operates four financial services businesses:

• Lifestyle Trader: Investment and trading software systems;
• Lifestyle Investor Services: Trading and investment services;
• Professional Investment Institute;
• Independent Advisor Group.

It is a rapidly expanding company on its way to being a strong world player.

CEO of Lifestyle Asset Management, Murray Priestley said his group is excited to link its brand with one of Australia's most exciting Olympic sports.

 "We are all very excited to be supporting the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour.  The sport is energetic, fast-paced, tough and thrilling to watch - all ingredients we have been seeking in our sponsorship portfolio," Mr Priestley says.

"The team at Lifestyle Asset Management are big believers in a healthy lifestyle and work-life balance and we therefore see a great synergy with beach volleyball.

"We look forward to supporting these athletes and cheering them on throughout the competition."

Natalie Cook herself knows how important it is to have reliable, energetic and never-say-die partners.

"As a minor sport in Australia (relative to the football codes, cricket, golf, tennis) it is always a challenge to fund the level of event required to make an impression in the Aussie sports market," says Ms Cook.

"Not only from an exposure point of view, but also a competition opportunity for the athletes.

"When I was introduced to Lifestyle Asset Management, I immediately saw a way to make sport sponsorship sustainable for athletes, events and sporting associations, and just by understanding LAM it is possible.

"With the current economy, and threat of decreases in government funding, the smaller sports will suffer in the future.

"I am personally excited by the partnership with Lifestyle Asset Management as I believe its product and support will allow Beach Volleyball to prosper into the future.

"I look forward to working with Lifestyle Asset Management to keep Beach Volleyball as a part of the Australian sports psyche."

 NATIONAL BEACH CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Dates:                   March 11 - 14

Location:             Sandstorm Beach Club, Nathan, QLD (just outside Brisbane)

Schedule:

• Thursday, March 11 -  Pro Am Tournament - run similar to a corporate golf day, where companies buy-in and have four people participate along with a celebrity in a 5 v 5 format - 9 minute games).
• Thursday, March 11 - Pro Am Dinner - on the sand at Sandstorm Beach Club (under the stars).
• Friday, March 12 - Early rounds of National Championships (32 team draw per gender).
• Saturday, March 13 - Rounds continue:  Players' Party in the evening
• Sunday, March14 -  Finals (depending on the draw, semi-finals on Sunday too).