White House Welcome for Team USA: Monday Memo

President Trump Debut With U.S. Olympians

For the first time in his presidency, Donald Trump will welcome a U.S. Olympic team to the White House. He and the First Lady will play host April 27 to more than 200 guests for the traditional reception that follows an Olympic Games. He’ll have another chance in 2020 after the Tokyo Games.

Given the political situation in the Korean Peninsula and Mr. Trump’s gift for bravado, his comments to the group may be of greater interest than usual for these events. Last week he took credit for the success of the 2018 Olympics in public remarks.

Some Olympians are said to have opted out of the White House visit for political reasons, such as skier Lindsay Vonn and boarder Gus Kenworthy.

Team USA Awards

The night before the White House reception the Team USA Awards gala takes place at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. Presented by TOP sponsor Dow, the ceremony will be hosted by NBC Olympics anchor Mike Tirico. NBC will air the event May 12.

In addition to honoring performances from the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi will receive the Jesse Owens Olympic Spirit Award and Tom Kelly, vice president of communications at U.S. Ski & Snowboard will receive the Building Dreams Award, presented by USG.

Water Polo Debate in Budapest

Representatives from the 200 plus national governing bodies for aquatics meet in Budapest April 26-28 on the future of water polo on the Olympic program. While it is set for Tokyo 2020 there are questions on whether the discipline should continue in Paris.

The presentation of the sport and a dwindling number of competitive nations, largely in Europe, are the handicaps that FINA will be seeking to overcome.

Tokyo 2020 Checkup

IOC Coordination Commission chair John Coates leads the latest Project Review meeting for the 2020 Games in Tokyo. The two day meeting is already open at the organizing committee headquarters offices. Coates and Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori report to the press the afternoon of April 24.

Gymnastics Athletes Honored

Gymnasts involved with the saga of abuse by the former team doctor of USA Gymnastics will receive the 2018 Humanitarian Award from the Foundation for Global Sports Development on April 28.

The red carpet event at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills will include Olympians and other stars at the reception.

"The Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have stepped up as leaders and champions for social, economic, political, or environmental justice and equality," says the invitation to the ceremony.

"We commend the group of women who, at great risk to themselves, stepped forward to share their painful stories of abuse. Their courage and strength will change sport forever".

The award includes a $1 million grant from the foundation to establish an educational program featuring the gymnasts as ambassadors.

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LA 2028 CEO Recognized

Gene Sykes, CEO of the Los Angeles bid for the Olympics will receive the Global Spotlight award from the organization LaHQ on April 25.

French Athletics Honors Lunzenfichter

Veteran Olympics writer Alain Lunzenfichter will receive a gold-medal April 27 from the French Athletics Association for his work over decades covering track and field as well as other sports for L’Equipe. The ceremony will take place at the City Hall in Lyon where the association is meeting.

April 25 Deadline for Boxing

Wednesday is the deadline for AIBA to submit its answers to questions from the IOC regarding its governance.The federation faces the prospect of being knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics if responses are not satisfactory.

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