Michelle Obama to lead Olympic delegation

WASHINGTON -- Michelle Obama will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, the White House said yesterday.

It has become a tradition for first ladies to lead the U.S. delegation.

Laura Bush took the role for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, and Hillary Rodham Clinton for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

In advance of the upcoming summer games, Obama hosted a mini-Olympic competition with physical activities for D.C.-area children Tuesday at American University, part of her Let's Move! initiative to promote fitness and healthy eating.

Olympians and Paralympians including Kortney Clemons, Dominique Dawes, April Holmes, Lisa Leslie, Lori Ann Lindsey, Dan O'Brien, Becky Sauerbrunn and David Wagner led the children in competitions that included basketball, soccer, tennis and relay races.

The fifth-graders were from MacFarland Middle School in Washington, Manor View Elementary School in Maryland and Arlington Science Focus School in Virginia.

Obama was joined by Britain's first lady, Samantha Cameron, who is accompanying Prime Minister David Cameron on an official two-day visit to the United States.

President Barack Obama and Cameron stopped by about halfway through the students' hourlong workout, and Obama briefly hit tennis balls with the kids before making a few remarks. -- AP