USOC Award for Easton; New Kits for Ukraine; Griffin Out of Olympics

Achievement Award for Easton

IOC member James Easton is the recipient of the Olive Branch Achievement Award from the U.S. Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company.

Easton, also a USOC board member and past president of World Archery, was honored Thursday in Chicago at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

"Jim is has been a friend to the USOC for many years and has given much in support of the aspirations of our Olympians and Paralympians," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.

"He is a true sportsman at heart and his love of sport shows in all that he does."

Easton added: "I have always been proud to represent the U.S. in my various international roles. I have some very good friends in the international sports community and share this honor with them."

Among the evening’s other stars were Hall of Fame inductees Gail Devers (track & field), Jean Driscoll (Paralympic track & field), Gary Hall, Jr. (swimming), Lisa Fernandez (softball), Kristine Lilly (soccer), Dan O'Brien (track & field), Jenny Thompson (swimming), the 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team, Ed Temple (coach - track & field), James Connolly (veteran - track & field) and Sen. Ted Stevens (special contributor).

New Digs for Team Ukraine

Team Ukraine will head to London 2012 with a full 42-piece clothing collection courtesy of Bosco.

The sportswear specialist from Russia unveiled its Olympic kits Thursday at a ceremony in Kiev attended by former and future Olympians of Ukraine, including pole vault champion, IOC member and NOC president Sergey Bubka.

"Our outfit for the London Games turned out to be very colorful, in the spirit and style of our flag and our cultural traditions," he said in a statement.

"BOSCO’s designers really looked at our national cultural identity and the choice of the symbol embodies all that we are proud of."

Ukraine is sending 245 athletes to London, down from 254 in Beijing.

Torch Relay Update

London 2012’s torch relay will travel 76 miles Friday from Portland Bill to Bournemouth Beach.

The relay takes the Olympic Flame along the UK's Jurassic Coast to various sites including the natural stone arch Durdle Door near Dorset.

Giles Scotts, a Team GB medal hopeful in sailing, will be one of the day’s 147 torchbearers as he does the honor in Weymouth, site of sailing events during the Games.

The torch is set to travel through Portland Bill, Southwell, Weston, Easton, Portland, Fortuneswell, Weymouth, Preston, Osmington, Winfrith Newburgh, Wool, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Stoborough, Wareham, Sandford, Lytchett Minster, Upton, Hamworthy, Poole, Ashley Cross, Branksome, Wallisdown and Bournemouth before the day is done.

Griffin Out of Olympics

Power forward Blake Griffin is the latest NBA star sidelined for London.

Days after getting tapped for Olympics duty and hours after signing a five-year, $95 million extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, he left a Team USA scrimmage in Las Vegas with pain in his left knee later diagnosed as a meniscus tear.

USA Basketball executives quickly called up University of Kentucky standout and No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis, who dressed but did not play during Thursday’s first pre-Games friendly, a 113-59 win over Dominican Republic.

Griffin joins centers Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh as well as guards Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade among the Team USA shoo-ins not bound for London because of injury.

Facebook Chat with Kirsty Coventry

Olympic champion swimmer Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe tells Around the Rings these last two weeks until the Games are about "tweaking those little things that will hopefully make that little bit of difference" in London.

Check out what she had to say about the past, present and future of her Olympic achievements in this Facebook interview.

Written byAaron Bauer and Matthew Grayson

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