Easton Olympic rings ceremony

NEWBERRY – Easton Newberry Sports Complex is finally unveiling its Olympic rings Friday as the facility has officially earned its designation as a Community Olympic Development Center for youth archery.

Easton is an approved archery Olympic training site after years of focusing efforts on streamlining the facility operations and tailoring the classes to better fit the United States Olympic Committee high performance system and USA Archery standards.

At 10:30 a.m. Friday, before the unveiling ceremony, the complex will offer open shooting at the range adorned with the soon-to-be revealed Community Olympic Development Program logo. Attendees can shoot alongside youth national and state champions.

At noon, the RSVP luncheon will begin and as the guests eat, speakers from the United States Olympic Committee, Easton foundation and local government will present. Then the Olympic rings will be unveiled in all their glory.

The guest list includes 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jake Kaminski, 2012 Para Olympic gold medalist Jerry Shields, Newberry Commissioner Joe Hoffman, Mayor Bill Conrad, Commissioner Alena Lawson, Commissioner Lois Forte, Alachua County Commissioner Charles Chestnut, County Commissioner Susan Baird, CEO and President of Easton Foundations Greg Easton, Olympic Committee member Bobbi Ullman and USA Archery Head Coach Kisik Lee. There are expected to be around 100 guests.

“It’s a landmark day for the city of Newberry,” Mayor Bill Conrad said.

“It’s going to open the door the young archers in Newberry to have an opportunity for Olympic gold,” he said.

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