January 12: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step off Air Force One at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware.
Photograph by: Adnan Abidi, Reuters
The United States government is sending its B-team to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
The White House announcement today that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will head the American delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver means that President Barack Obama is giving the Winter Games a miss, an official at the U.S. consulate in Vancouver said.
"The president was in Ottawa last February and this year it's the vice-president's turn," the official added.
Biden and his wife, Jill, will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony of the games. The delegation will include Valerie Jarrett, a close friend and senior advisor to the president, U.S. ambassador to Canada David Jacobson and several gold medalists, including Mike Eruzione, a member of the 1980 U.S. hockey team, and Peggy Fleming, a 1968 gold medalist in figure skating.
Biden will only stay in Vancouver for a few days while other delegation members may stay longer.
A second U.S. delegation headed by homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano will attend the closing ceremony of the 2010 Games.
January 12: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama step off Air Force One at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware.
Photograph by: Adnan Abidi, Reuters
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