First Lady Michelle Obama is picked up by U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility at the University of East London July 27. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
….. with Joshua Wilkins-Waldron during a “Let’s Move! London” event at Winfield House in London, July 27 (Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
First Lady Michelle Obama greets former Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders, right, and her children, Skye and Robert, following a “Let’s Move! London” event at Winfield House in London (Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
President Barack Obama talks with Grant Colfax, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy, in the Red Room before the White House International AIDS Conference reception, July 26, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
London Evening Standard: As a lesson in good natured statesmanship – if not to say simple manners – it was a masterclass.
For Michelle Obama cast aside stuffy protocol to join in the fun and games to celebrate today’s opening of the Olympic games with more than 1,000 children.
The First Lady met the children – most of them from U.S. military families – in the grounds of Winfield House, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in London…..
Mrs Obama, who later tried out sports including tug-of-war and football alongside the children, offered a tribute to military families who had been invited to take part in the event….
…. It was a somewhat different story from another American visitor, presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was forced to apologise for his comments about London’s readiness for the Games.
The gaffe-prone Republican told US channel NBC’s Today Show: “After being here a couple of days it looks to me like London is ready”.
His comments followed criticism from both David Cameron and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt as well as worldwide condemnation from Twitter users who got #romneyshambles trending on the microblogging site.
The First Lady will attend a reception for Heads of State hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace this evening. Following the reception, she will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in her role as head of the Presidential Delegation.
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Thanks Zizi
I’m guessing this is a first for TOD … a link to The Sun – but that’s a quite magnificent headline 😆
The Sun: Wannabe president Mitt Romney infuriated Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday by making a string of embarrassing blunders. The US election hopeful, on a visit to London, questioned whether the Olympics will be a success … and whether the British people will “come together and celebrate” the Olympics.
There was further embarrassment when Mr Romney said he had looked out of “the backside of Number 10” to see the beach volleyball court.
He breached diplomatic protocol by revealing he had been briefed by MI6 chief Sir John Sawers, then appeared to forget Labour leader Ed Miliband’s name, calling him “Mr Leader” instead.
Mr Cameron later slapped down the former Massachusetts governor …. In a clear swipe at Mr Romney, he added: “We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities in the world. Of course it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.”
…. London mayor Boris Johnson publicly ridiculed Mr Romney. Addressing the crowd at an Olympic concert in Hyde Park, Mr Johnson said: “There’s a guy called Mitt Romney who wants to know if we’re ready. Are we ready?” The 60,000-strong audience responded with a deafening cry of “Yes we are!”
The Obama Diary 
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