The UK’s largest property company has joined forces with British Volleyball as part of the FTSE-British Olympic Association Initiative.

The two will identify the planning, resources and structures necessary to enable Britain ‘to compete with credibility by 2009 and to compete with success at the 2012 Olympics’. The partnership is expected to continue beyond 2012.

‘The aim of this partnership is to drive a higher profile for volleyball, which we believe is a sport with an exciting future,’ said David Godden, chairman of Land Securities’ corporate responsibility committee. ‘While many of us play occasionally, or did so during our schooldays, it is difficult to access the clubs or facilities to take the sport any further.

‘We will be using our shopping centres and our established links with schools to help give volleyball the attention and support it deserves. We will also be encouraging our own employees and our suppliers to help us in this venture. Our ambition is to encourage talented youngsters to develop their skills in this sport, perhaps even to international competition standards.’