First lady Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron, wife of British Primer Minister David Cameron, talk with United States Women's National Soccer Team midfielder Lori Ann Lindsey, left, and defender Becky Sauerbrunn as they join with students participating in a mini-Olympics competition in celebration of the 2012 London Summer Olympics and Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
After-school sports got a new spin Tuesday as first lady Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron led a group of fifth-graders through a mini-Olympics.
They were joined by former Olympians Dominique Dawes and Lisa Leslie, as well as Paralympian Kortney Clemons, who lost his leg while fighting in Iraq. At the event, they stressed the hard work and determination that got them to the games — but not before the 55 fifth-graders from three Washington-area schools cycled through stations where they played basketball, soccer and tennis. There were also machines to simulate swimming, and a section of the gym was dedicated to a relay race.
Obama and Cameron, the wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, who’s in Washington this week for an official visit, billed the event at an American University gym as an advance celebration of this summer’s London games.
“I’m particularly excited that the Camerons are visiting our country this week,” the first lady said, “because as it turns out, I will be visiting their country this summer.”
The White House announced Tuesday that Obama will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games in London. First ladies often lead the U.S. delegation — Hillary Clinton led the American group at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, and Laura Bush led the U.S. delegation to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
Obama dovetailed into her “Let’s Move” initiative, which promotes exercise and healthful eating for children.
“In the months ahead, I’ll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action,” the first lady said.
Obama has in recent months taken on a higher-profile role in promoting the two-year-old initiative. She went on a multistate tour to mark the anniversary last month and has appeared on television with celebrities, including Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres. Next week, she will appear on “The Late Show With David Letterman.”
At the event Tuesday, the first lady urged the students to find things they’re passionate about, whether sports or other activities.
“You are all champions in our minds,” Leslie, a Women’s National Basketball Association player who won four gold medals as part of the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team, told the kids before a ceremony in which they were all given medals. “You do not have to be an Olympian or a Paralympian to be active and to be healthy. Whether you play sports or not, we’re really encouraging you to do that with ‘Let’s Move’”
Other Olympians at the event included tennis player MaliVai Washington, soccer players Lori Lindsey and Becky Sauerbrunn, runner Benita Fitzgerald Mosley and decathlete Dan O’Brien. Paralympians April Holmes and John Register and tennis player David Wagner, who plays in a wheelchair, were also on hand.
At one point, Dawes, who competed in three games, asked the kids to list the sports included in the summer games. Kids shouted basketball, swimming and track; one suggested yoga.
“That’s not an Olympic sport — yet,” she said. “That would be awesome.”
Read the full story and more at: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73970.html
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