EVIAN HITS THE BEACH WITH TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF WPVA

     Great Brands of Europe is close to a deal that would make
Evian bottled water the title sponsor of the Women's Professional
Volleyball Association.  Evian would succeed Coors Light "in a
year that the Summer Olympics are expected to elevate the
visibility of beach volleyball," according to Gerry Kermouch of
BRANDWEEK.  The multi-year, multi-million dollar deal would make
Evian tour sponsor and title sponsor of four "major events,"
three on CBS and one on Prime.  Great Brands will also "commit
$250,000 to media support in the top five markets," and will work
to "bring in other high-quality sponsors through its ties to
magazines, non-WPVA volleyball celebrities, and other female
celebrities."  Great Brands Marketing VP Paul Block said they
hope to help increase prize money to $1M or more.  Block:  "We'll
capitalize on the tremendous wave of Olympic fever."  DC-based
D&F Group brokered the deal (BRANDWEEK, 9/18 issue).