FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pro Beach Volleyball Star Karch Kiraly To Be Honored at the Pringles Smart Flavors Cincinnati Open presented by Herbalife
 

Say farewell to a retiring sports legend at “Karch Kiraly Bobblehead Night” sponsored by Kroger on Saturday, Sept. 1, at Lindner Family Tennis Center

CINCINNATI, August 6, 2007 – Reach Event Marketing, local promoters of the Pringles Smart Flavors Cincinnati Open and AVP, Inc., a lifestyle sports entertainment company focused on professional beach volleyball, announce that retiring pro beach volleyball legend Karch Kiraly will be honored with a special ceremony on Saturday night, Sept. 1, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

Festivities for “Karch Kiraly Bobblehead Night” sponsored by Kroger will include a free giveaway of Karch Kiraly bobbleheads to the first 2,000 fans through the gates for the evening session.  Tournament officials and Greater Cincinnati dignitaries will also present Kiraly with special commemorative gifts.

"Kroger is honored to be a part of Karch Kiraly’s retirement celebration as
the sponsor of his bobblehead night,” said Geoff Covert, president of
Kroger’s Cincinnati/Dayton Marketing Division.  “His accomplishments and
contributions to volleyball have lifted the sport to new heights.”  

The 45-year-old Kiraly announced earlier this year that 2007 will be his last season as a player on the AVP Tour as he moves into the role of ambassador for the sport that he helped to make famous.  He has played in a select few tournaments this season and Cincinnati will mark his final regular season Tour stop ever.

Playing in his 28^th professional season, Kiraly has notched 148 tournament victories and has earned in excess of $3 million.  He became the first volleyball player to win three gold medals in the Olympic Games – winning indoor gold in both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and again in 1996 in the inaugural beach volleyball competition in Atlanta.  Kiraly was inducted in the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2001.