Detroit -- Continuing on a commitment to increase awareness of its all-new product line-up in the highly competitive California market, Oldsmobile Division of General Motors announced sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic beach volleyball series to determine which athletes will represent America at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. The first of three tournaments in 1999 will open in Huntington Beach, Calif., on May 13 - 16 and will serve as the trials for the USA Beach Volleyball team for the 1999 Pan American Games.
Two other events, a women's tournament in Virginia Beach, VA on June 24-27 and an event in San Diego, September 10 - 12, featuring both men and women, are slated for 1999. Prize money at each event is $200,000 split evenly between men's and women's teams.
"We're extremely proud to be partnered with Olympic Beach Volleyball in key markets like California where the sport began and enjoys a large following," said Mike Sands, advertising and sales promotion director for Oldsmobile. "The creation of this series provides tremendous marketing value that allows Oldsmobile to not only put our name on an event but to contribute to the livelihood of the sport and young Olympic hopefuls."
The series is expected to grow to six events in 2000 including tournaments in Florida, Texas, Virgina and California.
Athletes will vie for spots on the Olympic team based on standings throughout the year-long competition. Following an accumulation of points over the six match series in 2000, four men and four women, will be selected as representatives for the U.S. Olympic Beach Volleyball team for the Games in Sydney.
"With the Southern California market as a starting point, we're confident that this series will increase the exposure of our feature vehicle Alero to individuals who traditionally have bought import cars," Sands said.
Financial terms for the sponsorship were not released but the package will include televised programming on ESPN, billboards at courtside, and featured advertising in all event advertising. "Oldsmobile's beach volleyball sponsorship punctuates General Motors' involvement in supporting U.S. Olympic teams for the next ten years at all levels of the sport," Sands said.
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