In a recent announcement, the White House revealed that First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will be leading the US delegation to the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Paris later this month. This news was confirmed on Friday, with the White House expressing their support for America’s athletes through the Biden administration.
The opening ceremony is set to take place on July 26, with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff leading the delegation to the closing ceremony on August 11. Additionally, Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will be leading delegations to the Paralympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, respectively, later in August.
During her trip to Paris, Biden is expected to attend various Olympic events, as mentioned by a White House official.
This comes at a crucial time for President Biden’s presidency, with growing calls from Democrats for him to step aside. Jill Biden continues to be a key advisor and supporter of the president, playing a significant role in the White House and campaign efforts. She has been actively campaigning on his behalf and working to strengthen support from essential coalitions.
It is worth noting that the first lady previously led the US delegation to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which were rescheduled to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden’s presence added a sense of normalcy to an Olympics that was significantly impacted by Covid restrictions, including mask mandates and limited audiences.
Decked out in Team USA gear, Biden was seen enthusiastically cheering on the American athletes, providing them with support and encouragement. She also participated in a Zoom pep rally to boost Team USA’s morale.
In a notable move, the US did not send an official delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a form of diplomatic boycott in response to human rights abuses in China.
Biden has a history of attending international sporting events, having previously attended the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games during her time as the second lady.
