While the men play, First Ladies take care of Olympic business

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REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Washington (dpa) - The US president and British prime minister jetted out of town Tuesday for some basketball diplomacy in Ohio, leaving their wives behind.

But First Lady Michelle Obama, never one to miss a beat, moved right into the limelight with the announcement that she would lead the presidential delegation to the opening ceremonies of the London Olympics on July 27.

At her side was Samantha Cameron, whose husband, Prime Minister David Cameron, had been whisked out of town by US President Barack Obama for an opening round game in the nation‘s national college basketball tournament.

Obama warned that she planned to use the Olympics as a soapbox for her "Let‘s Move!" initiative in the months ahead. She said the Olympics spirit "doesn‘t just mean sitting and watching, it means getting up and getting active as well."

"You don‘t even have to play an organized sport. You can dance in the living room, ride your bike around the neighborhood, or go for a walk with your friends," she said. "Everyone can find some way to be healthy, get active, and have some fun."

read: http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/while-the-men-play-first-lady-and-guest-push-olympicseds-see-also-dpa-164_196706.html



REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Mrs. Cameron, 40, is on her first official trip abroad with her husband, according to British media reports; she and Mrs. Obama struck up a friendship when the Obamas visited Britain early in the administration. After arriving, she joined Mrs. O at a mini-Olympics with school children at American University in Washington, an event designed to promote the 2012 Olympics in London this summer and Obama's anti-obesity Let's Move! campaign.

Obama, who will be leading the presidential delegation to the Opening Ceremonies at the Olympics, it was announced today, wore a chartreuse and cream beaded silk cashmere cardigan and a yellow flower print georgette shirt by L'Wren Scott, over cream palazzo pants, according to the Mrs-O.com blog.

The Camerons are here for three days; he is meeting with President Obama to discuss, among other things, the war in Afghanistan. Their wives are to have a quiet and casual dinner for two at the White House Tuesday evening, while the prime minister and the president went off to munch on hotdogs at an NCAA basketball game in Dayton, Ohio.

read: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/03/michelle-obama-meets-british-beauty--/1#.T1_tDXnAGQs



(AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

The two women have struck up a close bond which the US ambassador to London Louis Susman describes as “very, very warm”.

They are expected to discuss their families, life in the media spotlight and the hectic programme during the Camerons’ three-day visit to Washington and New York.

Details of the menu had yet to be made public but it will be more refined than the hotdogs the two leaders were expected to eat on the sidelines of the basketball match.

Mrs Cameron and Mrs Obama, who both regularly jog and work out, struck up their friendship during the presidential visit to Britain last year. Their dinner — billed as informal and convivial — will contrast with the state dinner tomorrow to be attended by hundreds.

read: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/politics/wives-quiet-meal-in-as-the-boys-eat-hotdogs-at-game-7565280.html



(AFP Photo/Mandel Ngan)

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1. kick

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3. K&R

Should be a good Olympics this summer!