Biden Makes Surprise Visit To Olympics Meeting In DC, Says He Loves L.A.

Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise appearance Friday at the Association of National Olympic Committees meeting in DC, one day after USOC Chair Larry Probst publicly noted the Obama administration’s absence. Biden called it an “oversight” that no one from the federal government had visited sooner. “For that, I apologize,” he said. L.A. Mayor and L.A. ’24 bid co-Chair Eric Garcetti asked him to come, he said. Biden warmly praised the Olympic movement in a seven-minute speech, calling the Games “the single unifying principle in the world.” He said he loves L.A. but obeyed protocol by not explicitly advocating for the American bid. President Obama in '09 became the first American president to lobby the IOC in person on behalf of Chicago's bid to host the '16 Games. Rio won after Chicago was eliminated on the first ballot with Obama in attendance. Some Olympics insiders say the White House still holds a grudge, though Biden’s appearance tamped down such talk.