LONDON, July 27: Michelle Obama formally opened her stint as leader of the US Olympics delegation on Friday, attending a breakfast with Olympians and saying she was “just in awe” of their company.

The US first lady mingled with the US athletes afterward, posing for photos, shaking hands and sharing hugs with dozens who had signed up to attend.

“Try to have fun. Try to breathe a little bit,” Mrs Obama said. “But also win, right?”

The first lady had a busy itinerary on Friday, including promoting healthy living with more than 1,000 children, a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace and then the opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium.

She told the US athletes that some of her fondest memories in sports stemmed from watching the Olympics on television. She also shared the story of her father, who was athletic but contracted multiple sclerosis “in the prime of his life.”

“He retained his love of sports, truly,” she told the athletes. “And the Olympics was a special time for him to watch amazing athletes of all abilities compete on the world stage.—AP