Sarah Hughes part of Presidential delegation to the Olympics..

Good to know that the "Second Lady of the United States" will be going along so that VP Pence can include Sarah Hughes in the dinner plans. :rolleyes:

Nice honor for Sarah. I'm surprised they couldn't find a few more former athletes to join the delegation. And disconcerting to see that two senior military commanders are included. (General Vincent K. Brooks, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea; General James D. Thurman, USA (ret.), Former Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea):wideeyes:
 
Debbie S said:
Have previous Oly delegations included members of the military? I have no idea, just wondering if this is a standard thing.
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Sochi:
  • The Honorable Janet A. Napolitano, President of the University of California, will lead the delegation.
  • The Honorable Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
  • The Honorable Robert L. Nabors, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy.
  • The Honorable Billie Jean King, Member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, Member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • Mr. Brian A. Boitano, Olympic gold medalist, figure skating.
London:
First Lady Michelle Obama

The Honorable Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Ms. Brandi Chastain, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2004), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (2000), Women’s Soccer

Ms. Dominique Dawes, Co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), 3-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992, 1996, 2000), Women’s Gymnastics

Mr. Gabriel Diaz de Leon, Paralympic javelin gold medalist (1992), Paralympic discus silver medalist (1992), Paralympic shot put and discus bronze medalist (1988, 1996, 2000)

Mr. Grant Hill, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), Men’s Basketball

Ms. Summer Sanders, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992), Women’s Swimming

Rio:
Kerry's delegation will also include Mark Spitz, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming; Liliana Ayalde, the U.S. ambassador to Brazil; Mari Aponte, acting assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs; Liz Allen, the deputy assistant to the president and White House deputy communications director; and Ellie Schafer, special assistant to the president and director of the White House Visitors Office.

Vancouver:
Bidens +
David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada

Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President

Mike Eruzione, 1980 Olympic gold medalist, U.S. Men’s Hockey Team

Peggy Fleming, 1968 Olympic gold medalist, Ladies Figure Skating

Vonetta Flowers, 2002 Olympic gold medalist, Women’s Bobsledding

Torino:
Mrs. Bush + The Honorable Ronald P. Spogli, U.S. Ambassador to Italy
Miss Barbara Bush
Mr. Roland Betts, Founder and Chairman of Chelsea Piers, L.P.
Mr. Brad Freeman, Founder Freeman Spogli & Co.
Ms. Dorothy Hamill, Olympic Gold Medalist and Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Dr. Eric Heiden, Olympic Gold Medalist and Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
Ms. Kerri Strug, Olympic Gold Medalist
Dr. Debi Thomas, Olympic Bronze Medalist
Mr. Herschel Walker, Former Olympian, Professional Football Player & Heisman Trophy Winner

So, sending a couple of military folks seems odd -- but it does look like including a figure skater is pretty much par for the course. I wonder if they had to call many to get a yes?
 
MacMadame said:
They didn't call her to Sochi or Vancouver or Torino.
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No clue about Sochi and Vancouver, but I do remember at the time of Torino, reading that Sarah had mono and was taking the semester off from college and was going to be doing skating commentary on local TV news (and then of course Emily got a spot on the Oly team after MK w/d so she went to Torino anyway) but her illness may have caused her to decline an invite if she was offered one...does seem odd that the reigning ladies OGM wouldn't get some official role, but who knows.
 
skatfan said:
Now we look like a two-bit dictatorship with Trump sending his generals, as if that will deter N. Korea from anything. Sheesh.
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... And it wouldn't make sense for North Korea to inflame tension & threaten again right now either way.
 
barbk said:
Good to know that the "Second Lady of the United States" will be going along so that VP Pence can include Sarah Hughes in the dinner plans. :rolleyes:

Nice honor for Sarah. I'm surprised they couldn't find a few more former athletes to join the delegation. And disconcerting to see that two senior military commanders are included. (General Vincent K. Brooks, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea; General James D. Thurman, USA (ret.), Former Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea):wideeyes:
Click to expand...

In that part of the world, any official delegation is always on High Alert. So proud of Sarah, a true patriot. She is the 7th and latest US ladies figure skating gold medalist. That’s as prestigious as it gets.
 
"United States Forces Korea" makes me think that these generals are stationed in Korea, or have been in the past. The US still has an active, large military presence in Korea that is not the same as any of the other countries mentioned where Olympics have been recently held. I guess I don't think it's that surprising.
 
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