 President Barack Obama holds a basketball given to him by the 2012 NCAA Champions University of Kentucky men's basketball team in the East Room of the White House in May
August 9th, 2012
07:18 PM ET
Obama continues to show Olympic pride COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN)—President Obama continued to show his Olympic spirit with an unannounced stop at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility here on Thursday where he said he “couldn’t be prouder” of all U.S. Olympic and Paralympics athletes. He also took time out to congratulate the U.S. women’s soccer and water polo teams for their gold medals. “We have to give a special shout out to the women’s soccer team today avenging the loss in the World Cup,” Obama said. The USA beat Japan 2-1 in the Olympic final at London’s Wembley Stadium. As the president toured the facility, a television in the background showed the medal ceremony. FULL POST  June 15, 2012
August 4th, 2012
11:26 AM ET
Obama's Olympic well-wishes(CNN) – President Barack Obama put politics aside on Saturday, using his weekly address to recognize the sportsmanship, success and sacrifice of the U.S. Olympic team. Obama stayed stateside – holding official events and hitting the campaign trail – while his wife, Michelle, led the official U.S. delegation to the London games opening ceremony. "I've got to admit I was a little jealous she got to go," he said. "But like many of you, I caught as many events as I could, jumping off the couch for a close race or a perfect vault." The United States, with a total of 43 medals, led other countries in the medal count as of Friday evening. In his address, Obama highlighted some of the most prominent American victories.  President Obama speaks on the phone with members of the U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team during a phone call from Air Force One Wednesday. The President called the women to congratulate them on their gold medal in the team competition. (Photo credit: Pete Souza, The White House)
August 2nd, 2012
07:37 AM ET
 The U.S. Women's Gymnastic team after winning a gold medal on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo credit: Getty Images Europe)
August 1st, 2012
12:47 PM ET
Obama's Olympic fever (CNN)–Like millions of people around the world, President Obama is avidly following the Olympic Games in London. Mixing politics and sports in the battleground state of Ohio on Wednesday, the president told supporters at a campaign rally in Mansfield to "give it up for all our outstanding American athletes" competing in the international games. The president told the crowd he had just spoken to the U.S. Women's Gymnastic team which won a gold medal Tuesday night. It was the first team gold medal for U.S. women gymnasts since 1996. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the president spoke by phone from Air Force One to all five members of the team. Carney said the president told Aly Raisman that "of all Olympians, you guys amaze us most." He congratulated Jordyn Wieber saying, "I'm so impressed with how you bounced back and led the team." Mr. Obama told McKayla Maroney "way to nail that vault." To Gabby Douglas, the president said, "You just tore it up. I know how hard you worked to get there." Finally Obama told Kyla Ross how he noticed her steadiness, saying "I was impressed by how cool you were. I don't know how you do what do especially the balance beam." FULL POST  Gold medalist Michael Phelps kisses his gold medal after the podium ceremony of the men's 4x200m freestyle relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images)
August 1st, 2012
08:24 AM ET
POTUS first fan-in-chief for OlympicsWhite House (CNN)–As Michael Phelps swam into the history books on Tuesday, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time, it didn't go unnoticed by the number one fan in the White House. "Congrats to Michael Phelps for breaking the all-time Olympic medal record. You've made your country proud. -bo," President Obama tweeted to his 18 million followers. Phelps, who won his 19th Olympic medal as the anchor of the gold winning USA 4×200 meter freestyle relay team, tweeted back, "Thank you Mr. President!! It's an honor representing the #USA !! The best country in the world!!" An avid sports fan, it's no surprise the commander in chief was watching. "He is a sports fan, as everyone knows," Jay Carney said at last Friday's press briefing. "I heard him the other day. He's like, 'I love the Olympics. I can't wait for the Olympics to start." The president also appointed First Lady Michelle Obama to lead the American delegation to the London games. 
July 26th, 2012
02:49 PM ET
Obama received Olympic security briefing White House Press Secretary Jay Carney announced that President Obama received an Olympic Security briefing on Thursday.
 First Lady Michelle Obama talks with a girl scout while planting the White House garden in March. White House Chef Sam Kass watches in the background.
July 23rd, 2012
03:03 PM ET
First Lady to lead U.S. delegation to London Olympics (CNN) – The White House held a conference call on Monday to release the details of First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to London as the head of the U.S. delegation to the 2012 Olympic Games. Joining the first lady as part of the delegation will be former Olympics and Paralympics athletes Brandi Chastain, Dominique Dawes, Gabriel Diaz de Leon, Grant Hill and Summer Sanders. “Leading our nation's delegation and traveling to London is truly a dream come true,” Obama said. “If anybody had asked me when I was 10, or 11 or 20 or actually 40 whether I'd be doing this I would have said not. Some of my fondest memories when I was young and not so young involved watching the Olympics on TV and cheering on Team USA and as part of this trip and my Lets Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity I decided that I wanted to turn that Olympic spirit and inspiration into action by using these games as a way to get more kids up and moving.” The first lady will head to London on Thursday, and her official visit will begin with an informal breakfast for U.S. Olympians on Friday. Later in the morning, Obama will host a Let's Move! event for the children of American service members stationed in London as well as American and British students. Athletes such as David Beckham, Nadia Comaneci, Shawn Johnson, Carl Lewis, and Dikembe Mutombo will also attend the event. FULL POST 
July 19th, 2012
05:37 PM ET
Obama says yes to Olympic tributePresident Obama is in support of a proposed tribute at the London Olympics to honor the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed at the 1972 games in Munich. “Yes, we absolutely support the campaign for a minute of silence at the Olympics to honor the Israeli athletes killed in Munich,” said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor. The son of one of the 1972 Munich victims, Moshe Weinberg, thanked President Obama on Twitter: RT @GuriWeinberg: I'm literally crying right now. Thank you, President Obama. According to Yahoo News, spokeswoman for Mitt Romney Andrea Saul said "the Republican standard-bearer had taken no public stance on the issue.” Read more about the controversy over the proposed tribute at CNN.com. 
July 17th, 2012
01:23 PM ET
A kiss is just a kiss Do you ever wish you had a chance to do something over? Well last night at the USA men's basketball ball game against Brazil President Obama got that chance. During the first half of the game the Obamas were featured in the arena's "Kiss Cam" but they didn't kiss. The crowd, unhappy that they had been cheated out of a first couple smooch, booed their dissatisfaction. The president had the chance to make it right when near the end of the game the "Kiss Cam" came back to the couple. This time, with daughter Malia egging them on, the president and first lady gave the crowd what they wanted, a big ole kiss. 
June 22nd, 2012
02:11 PM ET
Mrs Obama is going to the Olympics and taking some medal winners with herIt's official, First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the Presidential delegation to the Olympic games this summer in London. The delegation was announced today and Mrs Obama will attend the opening ceremony which is scheduled for July 27 with five former medal winners including soccer player Brandi Chastain, NBA basketball star Grant Hill. “This summer I’ll be cheering on Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama in a written statement. “Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all of us, especially our young people. And I know that this delegation will help inspire a generation of young people to get into the Olympic spirit by getting active and healthy so they can reach their fullest potential and reach their dreams.” The complete delegation list and the Olympic medals they have won are listed after the jump: |
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