Do you know your “dig” from your “spike” or a “pancake” from a “deep dish”? Beach volleyball is coming to the square mile from 11th-15th September at Broadgate Arena, hosted by Telstra Limited.

The public is invited to watch Olympic beach volleyball players in action at a series of free public events which will help raise the profile of UK beach volleyball in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics. 

On Tuesday 12th September, 12 noon to 3pm, Australia’s number one-ranked women’s beach volleyball team - Natalie Cook (gold medal winner at the Sydney 2000 Olympics) and Nicole Sanderson - will run through a public training session in advance of their International Federation of Volleyball’ Women’s Open appearance in Porto Santo, Madeira, later that week.

Representing England, players from the English Olympic beach volleyball squad will play matches against Telstra Limited’s “Corporate Challenge” teams on both Thursday 14th September from 12noon to 3pm and Friday 15th September, from 11am until 3pm.

Beach volleyball has grown in popularity since its inclusion as an Olympic sport in the 1996 Atlanta games.  Last year, 32 international beach volleyball events were held, eight more than in 2004, with a further 100 plus events already planned to take place in the next two years.*

David Thorn, CEO, Telstra Limited, said “Telstra has a strong commitment to sport that has included sponsorship of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. “

“We are delighted to be hosting members of the English and Australian Olympic beach volleyball squads and hope these events will be an enjoyable way to further raise the profile of UK beach volleyball in the run up to the London Olympics in 2012.”

-- Ends –

The Telstra Limited Beach Volleyball press day will be Thursday 14th September from 12noon – 3pm.  To confirm a press place please email chrisw@hblmedia.com

Media Contacts:
Telstra Limited:
Peter Fitzpatrick, hbl media, 020 7612 1830 / peter@hblmedia.com
Kathryn Hughes, hbl media, 020 7612 1830 / kathryn@hblmedia.com

For high resolution images of last year’s beach volleyball event please contact:
Chris Warner, hbl media, 020 7612 1830 / chrisw@hblmedia.com

Notes to Editors:
* - source: www.fivb.org

About Telstra:

Telstra Corporation is also an advisor to the BOCOG (Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic games of 2008).

In August, Telstra Limited launched its converged voice and data “Hosted PBX” service which, being based on SIP, VoIP and broadband technologies, enables small and medium sized companies to benefit from all the features of a costly PBX system with little investment and lower ongoing maintenance and support costs. 

Telstra Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telstra Corporation Limited (ASX:TLS). Operational in Europe for over 14 years, Telstra offers an extensive range of voice and data services including total managed network solutions using Global IP-VPN (MPLS), Internet, ATM, Frame Relay, Private Lines, hosting and co-location services and enhanced voice solutions to medium sized business and multinational corporations in the UK. Additional value added services include fully managed CPE, network reporting, consulting, planning, project management, service tools, which enable customers to monitor and view their network status 24x7 and customer support seven days a week.

Delivering connectivity business solutions, value-added services and complex managed IP solutions, Telstra Limited’s portfolio is complemented by its independently-owned and managed switched network. Switches are located in London, Birmingham and Manchester working alongside 14 co-location points throughout the UK. Additionally, state-of-the-art, resilient data centres are located in London, Docklands, Cambridge and Sunderland.

Parent company, Telstra Corporation Limited, is a full service global telecommunications company.