LOS ANGELES , April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- FIJI (R) Water, a major premium bottled water brand in the United States , today announced it will be the 'Official Water of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Crocs Tour' for the 2007 season. Featuring more than 150 of the top American male and female competitors in the sport, the beach volleyball tour will hit 18 cities in 13 U.S. states, which kicked off April 12 in Miami , Florida and runs through September 16 in San Francisco , Calif. Both FIJI Water and the AVP promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle and together they will bring summer excitement and pure hydration from a natural artesian source to millions of volleyball fans and beachgoers across the country.

FIJI Water will be providing the athletes with what they need most -- hydration. Drawn from an artesian aquifer deep below the Earth's surface on the Fijian island of Viti Levu, FIJI Water contains naturally-occurring minerals including electrolytes that are critical for hydration and muscle health. In celebration of the athletes' strength and talent, FIJI Water has taken their involvement with the AVP one step further by partnering with two players, Suzanne Stonebarger and Michelle More. Only three years into the AVP, Stonebarger and More, are the youngest team ranked in the top ten and are expected to break into the top five this season.

FIJI Water is sponsoring a national sweepstakes this summer that allows individuals a chance to win a trip to the Islands of Fiji and play in, or watch, a special AVP exhibition match with professional players, including Stonebarger and More. Additional prizes include tickets to local AVP tour events and/or AVP-FIJI Water branded merchandise. Consumers can enter at retail locations or online at www.fijiwater.com from July to September.

' FIJI Water is very excited to partner with the AVP,' said John Cochran, President, FIJI Water. 'It's the perfect drink to be consumed by healthy athletes, like the competing volleyball players, who want to be at the top of their game. This year's AVP tour will bring huge crowds of players and fans to the beach, providing an ideal environment for FIJI Water to keep everyone hydrated during the intense matches while delivering important health benefits from our unique and natural source.'

'We are thrilled to have FIJI Water on board as the official water of the AVP,' said Leonard Armato, CEO and commissioner of the AVP. ' FIJI Water will be a great addition to the tour and we are looking forward to reaching out to volleyball fans from coast-to-coast through the company's contributions and exciting marketing and retail campaigns.'

FIJI Water is a natural source of electrolytes, such as calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate -- all of which are vital for good health. Electrolytes help regulate important physiological functions and are important for hydration, as well as muscle and nerve health. Electrolytes can be lost when the body sweats or becomes dehydrated, especially during exercise and warm seasons, and FIJI Water can help naturally replenish these missing electrolytes.

About FIJI Water

FIJI (R) Water, a natural artesian water bottled at the source in Viti Levu ( Fiji islands), is the second largest imported bottled water brand in the United States . A product of one of the last virgin ecosystems on the planet, natural pressure forces FIJI Water out of its aquifer deep below the earth's surface and into iconic square bottles through a sealed delivery system free of human contact.

FIJI Water is available in four convenient sizes to suit any lifestyle. The 330 ml (11.16 oz) or Lil'FIJI, 500 ml (16.91 oz), 1 L (33.81 oz) and 1.5 L (50.72 oz) bottles are available in single serve and/or multi-packs at leading retail locations, and are also served at premiere hotels, restaurants and gourmet shops. FIJI Water is also available for home delivery in the continental United States at http://www.fijiwater.com. FIJI Water received the United States Secretary of State's 2004 Award for Corporate Excellence. It is the fastest-growing super-premium bottled water and has been top-rated in taste tests among bottled waters by Cook's Illustrated Buying Guide, Men's Health and others.

About the AVP, Inc.

AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Inc. is a leading lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on the production, marketing and distribution of professional beach volleyball events worldwide. AVP operates the industry's most prominent national touring series, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, which was organized in 1983. Featuring more than 150 of the top American men and women competitors in the sport, AVP is set to stage 18 events throughout the United States in 2007. In 2004, AVP athletes successfully represented the United States during the Olympics in Athens , Greece , winning gold and bronze medals, the first medals won by U.S. women in professional beach volleyball. For more information, please visit www.avp.com.

SOURCE AVP, Inc.