Jason Collins and Eric Fanning to attend Rio Olympic closing ceremony
President Obama has chosen two gay men as part of his Olympic delegation for the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
New Now Next reports that NBA player Jason Collins and Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning will be attending the ceremony.
The White House released a statement about the news, saying:
“President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil. The Closing Ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil will be held on August 21, 2016.”
Both Jason Collins and Eric Fanning took to Twitter to share their excitement of the news.
Woohoo! Thrilled to join US #Olympics Closing Ceremony Delegation in Rio to rep @POTUS, #ArmyOlympians & #TeamUSAhttps://t.co/WyyZePPEKa
— Eric Fanning (@SECARMY) August 12, 2016
Beyond honored & excited to be on the Presidential delegation for the #ClosingCeremony at #RioOlympics. #GoTeamUSA https://t.co/FVK5rE1yNJ
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) August 12, 2016
However this isn’t the first time Obama has sent LGBT individuals to represent the US at the Olympic Games. In 2012, Obama sent figure skating champion Brian Boitano, US hockey player Caitlin Cahow and tennis legend Billie Jean King to the closing ceremony.
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games Closing Ceremony will take place on August 21.
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