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Obamas and Bidens to snub Sochi Olympics opening ceremonies amid tensions with Russia over Edward Snowden tensions and gay rights
By DAVID MARTOSKO, U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR PUBLISHED: 18:35 EST, 17 December 2013 | UPDATED: 18:46 EST, 17 December 2013 Not going: President and Mrs. Obama won't make the trip to Sochi, in what is seen as a huge snub to Russian President Vladimir Putin President Obama, Vice President Biden, and their families will skip the opening or closing ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, breaking with recent tradition that has seen very senior White House officials in attendance when athletes from around the world arrive for competition. The move will be seen as a snub of Russian President Vladimir Putin, since the last four Olympics saw far more senior administration officials in attendance. And adding to the in-your-face decision, the U.S. will include an openly gay athlete, Billie Jean King, among its luminaries when the Sochi games open – in defiance of Russia's new national anti-gay laws. The last time an Olympic Games kicked off wi...
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