The USOC Thursday named Gold Medal-winning gymnast PETER VIDMAR and former Paralympic track and field athlete AIMEE MULLINS Chefs de Mission "to act as liaisons" for the '12 London Olympics and Paralympics. Vidmar and Mullins will "travel to London for chef de mission meetings in August and in January, and they're both expected to march in the Opening Ceremony -- for the Olympics on July 27, 2012, and for the Paralympics on Aug. 29, 2012" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 4/29).
PLAYING POLITICS: Asian Football Confederation President MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM, who is running against SEPP BLATTER for FIFA President, "has denied trying to buy votes with a promise of increased financial aid for the federation's members." Bin Hammam "has vowed to double the sum paid annually to FIFA members to $500,000," but he "rejected suggestions that the proposed increase in money for development projects was a form of vote-buying" (LONDON TIMES, 4/29).
FASHION FORWARD: In N.Y., Tim Murphy profiled RACHEL JOHNSON, "who has emerged as the go-to image maker for celebrity athletes like" Knicks F AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE and Heat F LEBRON JAMES. Stoudemire, "never a fashion slouch, has improved his sartorial game thanks to Ms. Johnson, who is credited with bringing tailored suits, bow ties and chunky glasses to a world better known for baggy jeans and sneakers." Johnson: "There's value for these brands in dressing NBA clients because they get a lot of press" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/28).
NAMES: The Marlins and Food For The Poor Thursday announced that their Inspiration Village in Haiti is now complete. Marlins Senior VP/Communications & Broadcasting P.J. LOYELLO, Senior VP/Marketing SEAN FLYNN and Dir of Community Outreach ANGELA SMITH will visit Cap-Haitien, Haiti, from May 3-5 to celebrate the dedication of the village (Marlins)....The Eagles Thursday were honored with three first-place corporate philanthropy awards at the Philadelphia Business Journal's Corporate Philanthropy Summit. The team was named the Top Cash Donor ($871,811) and Top In-Kind Donor ($3M), and also was awarded the Top Community Impact Award (Eagles)....Former U.S. Olympic figure skater MICHELLE KWAN and movie producer FRANK MARSHALL were announced Thursday as co-Chairs of the fifth IOC Women and Sport 2012 Conference, which will be held next February in L.A. (LATIMES.com, 4/28)....Several NFL Draft prospects "met PRESIDENT OBAMA at a fund-raiser at the Waldorf-Astoria" in N.Y. on Wednesday night. LB ALDON SMITH said, "He walked into the room, and it was electric." Several prospects, including LB VON MILLER, also "spent Thursday morning visiting Mount Sinai Hospital" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/29)....Former golfer LORENA OCHOA is "expecting her first child." She is "due to give birth around November" (AP, 4/28).
REMEMBERING A LEGEND: The Dolphins will hold a public memorial service to honor late announcer JIM MANDICH "for all fans and media" at Sun Life Stadium on Wednesday at 7:00pm ET (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 4/28).
