While the 2008 Olympics are long gone and the 2012 games are still far in the future, beach volleyball fans will still be able to get their fix from the comfort of their own homes. The AVP announced today that it has extended its broadcast agreement with NBC for the upcoming 2009 season. The partnership marks the ninth year of national broadcast for the sport, and comes on the heels of NBC’s 2008 Beijing Olympics coverage.  

"We’re very pleased to continue this long standing partnership with NBC and to bring beach volleyball to fans across the U.S.," said Jason Hodell, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour CEO. "NBC brought record-high viewership to the Olympics last year, and we could not be happier that fans will be able to see our athletes compete on NBC once again this summer."  

NBC will live broadcast the July 4th and 5th Coney Island event, and the Hermosa Beach and Chicago stops in August during the 2009 season.  NBC will produce the events in high definition and will promote the event in the weeks leading up on NBC Sports and Universal Sports programming.  

The AVP Crocs Tour Season launched in Panama City Beach, Florida in March and will continue April 17-19 in Riverside, Calif. In addition, fans will be able to catch AVP Crocs Tour events streaming live online at  www.AVP.com, and participate in a new interactive fantasy game that lets them create their own line-ups and follow the stats of their favorite players at http://fantasy.avp.com.