With the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea closed, we turn the page and look ahead to the next Olympics: the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. USA TODAY Sports
Team USA will visit the White House next month.
Olympians and Paralympians who competed in Pyeongchang will make their trip on April 27, said Patrick Sandusky, the U.S. Olympic Committee’s chief external affairs officer.
It’s the first time President Donald Trump will host Team USA at the White House since taking office 14 months ago.
“We’ve had really good response rate to date in terms of RSVPs,” Sandusky said. “It’s certainly on par with past White House visits.”
Some U.S. Olympians have already said they would not attend. Before the Games, figure skater Adam Rippon, freeskier Gus Kenworthy and Alpine skier Lindsey Vonn said they would not.
Kenworthy and Rippon, the first two openly gay male athletes to represent the United States during the Winter Games, have criticized the administration and its policies.
In a CNN interview in December, Vonn said, “Well, I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president. … I want to represent our country well. I don't think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that."
Vonn faced a barrage of criticism for her comments on social media.
“I may not be as vocal right now with my opinions, but that doesn’t mean they’ve won,” she said during the Games, where she won bronze in the downhill. “I haven’t changed my mind.’’
During the Olympics in February, the United States finished fourth in the overall medal count with 23. Norway had a record 39 to lead the medal standings.
Team USA’s Paralympians concluded the Games earlier this month atop the medal table. Their 36 medals mark the country’s biggest haul in 16 years.
The choice whether to visit the White House or not has become more politicized, especially for pro teams, during Trump’s time in office.
The NBA champion Golden State Warriors did not visit. Trump withdrew the invitation after it became clear that the team, whose coach and players have criticized the president, would not be inclined to come.
Alabama, winner of the college football playoff, will make its visit on April 10. More than 73,000 people signed an online petition created before the national championship calling on the team to decline the invitation.
During Trump’s presidency, the White House has hosted World Series champions – the Chicago Cubs in June and Houston Astros earlier this month – as well as the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and Stanley Cup winners Pittsburgh Penguins.
Trump previously hosted a meeting with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and USOC chairman Larry Probst in June.
Contributing: Josh Peter