Obama welcomes MLS champs to White House, jokes most of his soccer watching is for daughters

October 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama got ready to play basketball with his Cabinet secretaries and congressmen on Thursday, the White House is facing questions over why no women were invited for the game. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs admitted the mistake saying: "I would say that the point's well taken.

October 1st, 2009 Obama heads to Denmark to lobby for 2016 OlympicsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is on his way to Denmark to help his adopted hometown of Chicago try to land the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Obama departed the White House on Thursday evening for an overnight flight to Copenhagen.

September 19th, 2009 White House scouts possible Obama Copenhagen visitWASHINGTON — The White House says it is sending an advance team to Copenhagen to check out the possibility of a personal appearance by President Barack Obama before the Olympic committee. A senior adviser to Obama confirmed Saturday night to The Associated Press that the advance team would only be making sure Obama has the option of going to appeal for Chicago, which is bidding to host the Olympics in 2016.

September 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama will be on hand to root for her home town of Chicago when the International Olympic Committee announces which city can host the 2016 competition, the White House said Friday. Michelle Obama will travel to Copenhagen for the ceremony Oct 2.

September 10th, 2009 Obama pushes for Chicago's 2016 Olympic bidWASHINGTON — Aiming to boost his hometown of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, President Barack Obama is bringing Olympic athletes to the White House next week and sending a senior adviser to Denmark to lobby Olympic officials, White House officials said Wednesday. Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's top advisers, will attend an Oct.

August 19th, 2009 White House honors NASCAR champions, driversWASHINGTON — Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson had the gas to get to the White House on Wednesday, where President Barack Obama honored the 2008 winner as well as auto racing. "NASCAR is a uniquely American sport," Obama said in the Rose Garden, flanked by drivers.

August 3rd, 2009 Rain delays Monday's White House event for NASCARWASHINGTON — The White House meeting between No. 44 and No. 48 will have to wait a few weeks, thanks to turf problems elsewhere.

August 1st, 2009 Obama to greet Johnson, NASCAR champsWASHINGTON — No. 44, meet No.

July 28th, 2009 Basketball teams get similar speech, months apartWASHINGTON — President Obama is using a bit of a replay when lauding the WNBA champion Detroit Shock. Part of his speech Monday was almost identical to remarks he gave three months ago, when hosting the Connecticut Huskies, the NCAA women's champion.

July 27th, 2009 Obama supports US World Cup effortWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday lobbied the head of international soccer on the United States' bid to host the World Cup and said he hoped to attend the upcoming contest in South Africa. Obama met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the White House to discuss the United States' prospects to attract the tournament in 2018 or 2022.

July 27th, 2009 Obama says WNBA inspires his daughtersWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the WNBA serves as an inspiration for his two young daughters. Obama on Monday said his daughters, Sasha and Malia, have never known a time when women did not play professional basketball in the United States.

July 10th, 2009 WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Obama staffers meet popeVATICAN CITY — If one career highlight was getting Barack Obama elected president, another might be meeting the pope. Several senior White House staffers had the honor Friday, after President Barack Obama's private audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

July 10th, 2009 L'AQUILA, Italy — President Barack Obama is hinting he'll attend next year's World Cup soccer championship in South Africa. After a photograph with South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday, a reporter asked Obama if he'll attend the matches.

June 22nd, 2009 White House: Obama not committed to World CupWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama has not made a decision yet on whether to attend next year's World Cup soccer championship in South Africa. Presidential spokesman Robert Gibbs was asked about the matter on Monday after at least one published report said Obama had accepted an invitation.

May 30th, 2009 Obama's day: Soccer, NYC date night with MichelleWASHINGTON — There were no official events are his schedule Saturday, so President Barack Obama had plenty of time to devote to his other roles — father and husband. The president and first lady Michelle Obama watched their daughter Malia's soccer game in the morning.