June 13, 2012

Easton Foundations and USOC Announce Major Addition to Chula Vista Olympic Training Center

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - The United States Olympic Committee and the Easton Foundations today signed an agreement to build a new 40,000 square foot state-of-the-art archery field house at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

It was an exciting day of news for USA Archery: world-renowned archery coach KiSik Lee also renewed his own contract with the organization today, committing to continue as U.S. National Head Coach for another four years. Lee, who has been with the U.S. program since 2006, has overseen the development of the organization's high performance and coach development programming.

The resident program at the OTC has already produced the world's top-ranked men's archery team and individual male archer (Brady Ellison) heading into the 2012 Olympic Games. The new venue in Chula Vista will provide athletes a space to fine-tune their equipment and give them access to a premier training facility tailored specifically to the needs of their sport. The agreement will also bring additional on-site housing to the training center.

"Jim Easton and the entire Easton family have given an extraordinary amount of time and energy to the Olympic Movement, and by creating a new and improved training site for U.S. archers, have added an incredible physical reminder of the Easton family's Olympic legacy," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. "We're grateful for the Easton Foundations' support in this new endeavor and thrilled to have a permanent home-base that will aid in the development of current and future Olympic and Paralympic archers in the U.S."

The indoor facility will provide athletes with element-free training at the official Olympic distance of 70 meters. Construction is slated to begin this fall.

"This archery training facility and support housing has been a dream of Jim Easton, founder of the Easton Sports Development Foundation, for many years," said Easton Foundations President Greg Easton. "We are pleased to be signing the agreement, which will allow Easton Foundations to start construction on this facility and add another world-class training venue to the Olympic Training Center. The strong partnership between the USOC (including the staff at the OTC), USA Archery and the Easton Foundations will create this unique Archery Center of Excellence, attract more people to the great sport of archery and further improve the competitiveness of our archers on the international stage."

"We are so excited about the construction of this state-of-the-art archery training facility. Having this type of site available for our national and development training sets Team USA up for future success," said USA Archery CEO Denise Parker. "We feel very fortunate to have such strong archery supporters within both the United States Olympic Committee and Easton Foundations. I know I speak for all the athletes and members of USA Archery when I thank the two organizations for their tireless work to bring this facility to fruition."

Parker also commented on Lee's renewal of his contract: "Today was such an exciting day for USA Archery - having the best coach in the world and the best facility in the world for training - it could not be a better day for USA Archery and the athletes who will benefit from the high level of facility and coaching they will receive."

"I am happy and honored to take another term in the role of U.S. National Head Coach," commented Lee regarding his continued role with the organization. "I am very exited to see our organization keep growing and am proud to be a part of it."

More information on the USOC, the Easton Foundations and USA Archery can be found at TeamUSA.org, ESDF.org and USArchery.org. Written by USOC Communications; edited by USA Archery

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